Ukraine drone strike sparks major fire at Moscow-area power station

Ukrainian drones hit the Shatura heat and power station in the Moscow region on Sunday (23 November), causing a major fire and cutting heating for thousands.

“Some of the drones were destroyed by air-defence forces. Several fell on the territory of the station. A fire broke out at the facility,” governor Andrei Vorobyov said.

The Kommersant newspaper, citing the emergencies ministry, reported that three transformers at the power station caught fire. A local resident said there was no heating. Ukraine did not immediately comment.

Vorobyov said backup power had been switched on and mobile heating systems were being deployed to the area, where temperatures were near freezing. “All efforts are being taken to promptly restore heat supply,” he said. Flights at Vnukovo airport were halted for about an hour before resuming, officials said.

Russia’s defence ministry reported it had shot down 75 Ukrainian drones on Sunday, including 36 more than the Black Sea and several more than the Moscow region, according to its statement.
Shatura, a town of about 33,000 people, is served by one of Russia’s oldest power stations, founded under Vladimir Lenin and originally fuelled by peat; it now runs mostly on natural gas. The Moscow metropolitan area and surrounding region have a population of more than 22 million.

In recent months, Russia has frequently struck Ukraine’s electricity and heating infrastructure. Ukraine has in turn targeted Russian energy and fuel facilities, including oil refineries and pipelines, and has carried out strikes on some power and heating installations in areas occupied by Russian forces and in Russian regions bordering Ukraine.

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