The Russian army attacked energy facilities in five regions over the weekend and damaged two more thermal power plants, in bombings that involved more than a hundred 'drones' and missiles, according to the authorities in Kiev.

"After six massive attacks on the electricity grid, there is a significant shortage of electricity", stressed today the Ministry of Energy of this country that had about forty million inhabitants before the Russian invasion, launched in February 2022.

Work to repair the damage is underway, but the electricity grid remains in a precarious state and "the periods of interruption may be prolonged".

"In particular, emergency interruptions were implemented in several regions on Sunday", warned the ministry.

Russia has launched a new wave of attacks on Ukrainian electricity facilities in recent months, causing widespread damage and power shortages. Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses have sought to repel these massive attacks.

The first campaign of attacks that specifically targeted energy sites left millions of Ukrainians without electricity, running water and heating, in freezing temperatures during the winter of 2022-2023.

With these attacks, "Russia destroyed 9.2 GW (Gigawatts) of Ukrainian energy production", lamented the European Union ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, on the social network Facebook, on Sunday.

This value represents half of the Ukrainian production capacity that existed at the end of winter, accused Oleksandr Kharchenko, executive director of the Energy Industry Research Center, based in Kiev.

This energy shortage will last "at least two years" and Ukrainians will have to adapt to long power cuts, almost daily, warned the expert, during a press conference.

The situation will be more difficult in July and August, the hottest months, and during the winter, he explained, assuring that there is no need to fear an 'apocalypse'.

"The most pessimistic scenario for this winter foresees restrictions of six to ten hours per day for consumers, but all critical infrastructure" should be operational, as well as "heating, water supply, pipelines" and "leading defense companies".

The Ministry of Energy announced an increase of more than 60% in electricity prices from June 1st, citing the need to rebuild damaged infrastructure.

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