UKRAINE, KHARKIV, Feb. 3 — The Russian massive attack on Feb. 3 damaged the Kharkiv TEC-5 power plant and Kharkiv and Zaliutyne electrical substations. Local officials declared the state of emergency in the city, said Ihor Terekhov, the Kharkiv mayor.

Terekhov said that 929 objects, including 853 apartment buildings, are without heating because of the Russian attack, which means, as of now, over 105,000 customers are without heating.

Russians launched over 100 Shahed drones at energy infrastructure overnight. Ukrainian air defence shot down nearly 40 drones, said the governor Oleh Syniehubov to journalists.

“There was ballistics, there was Tornado-S, and there were cluster munitions. The Russians targeted our energy sector, knowing full well that the temperature outside was a critical -25°C (-13 °F),” said Syniehubov.

The governor told journalists that the mass Russian attack lasted almost five hours. After that, a Russian drone threat was detected in the region, which prevented energy workers from eliminating the consequences of the strikes.

The Kharkiv officials didn’t comment on the condition of the power plants or the substantiation after the attack because the situation “changes every 15 minutes.”

Syniehubov said that electricity will not be cut off in homes in the Kharkiv region where there is no heating supply.

Local officials also declared an emergency in the Lozova community, where over 16,000 customers are without heating. 

Heating points, where people can warm up, eat and drink hot tea, are being set up in the region and in the city.

Kharkiv authorities are also considering changing the curfew in the region, but it depends on the progress of stabilization and recovery after the attacks, Syniehubov said to journalists. 

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  • Russia resumes attacks on energy infrastructure, leaving without power customers in 4 regions, including Kharkiv oblast

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