Russian strikes on Kharkiv destroy ‘almost all’ energy infrastructure, mayor says

Russia’s recent air strikes on Kharkiv have knocked out “almost all” of the city’s energy infrastructure, Mayor Ihor Terekhov told the Ukrainian news site Liga.net. “Almost all of the critical energy infrastructure has been destroyed and private [infrastructure] has also been crushed,” he said in an interview published on Monday. 

Russian forces have carried out several mass strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in recent weeks. A March 22 attack on Kharkiv left nearly the entire city without electricity and running water. Another strike on Monday damaged energy enterprises, causing electricity shortages in Kharkiv and the surrounding region, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. 

“Russia wants to intimidate us, but that’s not possible,” Terekhov told Liga.net. “The situation for the energy industry is very difficult. However, no one is giving up. We have ‘invincibility points’ working around the clock. [...] We have survived more difficult times and we will survive these ones, too.” 

Earlier, the independent Russian news outlet Verstka reported that Russia’s Defense Ministry is planning a renewed offensive on Kharkiv. Sources close to the Kremlin later told Meduza this is a “very likely scenario” that could theoretically lead to another round of mobilization.

Last Friday, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi warned that launching an attack on Kharkiv would be “fatal” for Russian troops.