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War
1682nd day. Russia is preparing to destroy Ukraine's electric power industry. Such a plan of the Russian Ministry of Defense was at the disposal of Kyiv
Since February 24, 2022, Meduza has been broadcasting live about the Russian-Ukrainian war. We publish your letters every day because we are sure that we need to continue talking about the war. Share with us your thoughts about the war. What feelings are you experiencing? How does war affect your life and your attitude towards the world? If you have a story related to the war, tell it . The feedback form is at the end of this article. You can read the previous day's review here .
Russia is going to completely disable the energy system of Ukraine. The corresponding plan of the Russian Ministry of Defense, writes The New York Times, was at the disposal of the Ukrainian authorities. Ukrainian Energy Minister Denis Shmygal showed it to two European politicians at the end of September, sources told the publication. A copy of the document, written in Russian, was also in the possession of the NYT. However, it is not possible to confirm its authenticity, the publication notes.
The plan involves a large-scale campaign using missiles of various types, guided bombs (CAB) and drones, including jets. According to the document, Russia plans to conduct the campaign in three stages:
- First stage : attacks on substations on the western borders of Ukraine to deprive the country of the opportunity to import electricity from Europe.
- Second stage : attacks on hydroelectric power stations.
- Third stage : attacks on substations that supply electricity to three nuclear power plants that remain under Ukrainian control. The fourth Ukrainian nuclear power plant, the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, is occupied by Russian troops.
The ultimate goal of the campaign is to cut off major Ukrainian cities from electricity, heat and water in order to provoke a humanitarian crisis.
Kyiv, Kharkov and Odessa are highlighted in the plan as main targets. We are talking about reducing the supply of electricity and heat in these cities by 90%, as well as disabling a significant part of the sewer systems.
It follows from the document that Russia is going to destroy almost 15 gigawatts of generating capacity - this is almost as much as Ukraine had at the end of the summer of 2026, writes NYT.
Shmygal, speaking in the Verkhovna Rada in August, said that by the end of the year Ukraine will have 21 gigawatts of generating capacity. That would be enough to cover peak demand, which reached 18 gigawatts last winter. However, Russia is not stopping attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities, which could negate Ukraine’s attempts to increase capacity before the winter season, experts told the NYT.
War in photographs
On October 1, for the first time since the start of the great war, Russian troops deliberately attacked the bridge across the Dnieper in Kyiv. In just one day, Russian drones attacked this bridge three times. On the morning of October 2, the South Bridge was closed to traffic; traffic was limited on the Paton Bridge and the Metro Bridge. Huge traffic jams have formed in Kyiv.
War through the eyes of Meduza readers
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Anonymous reader (Russia) . I love my home. I love my homeland. I love Russia. It was a wonderful place. The best on earth. What did they do to my house? How dare they? Who gave them the right? I am ashamed to live in my house, I am ashamed of the actions of the Russian government. But is this really how it should be? No, never.
I so wish they would all disappear. It is naive to close your eyes and ears. Pinch yourself, realize that this is all a dream.
But you need to open your eyes and move on. Look at what's left of a part of your soul. From a piece of your heart. And your "I". And think: how dare they, and who gave them the right?