Emergency power outages have begun across the countryOn December 16, Ukraine faced large-scale consequences of strikes on the energy infrastructure.
Many cities remained de-energized, emergency power outages were introduced throughout the country. Ukrenergo stated that more than half of the consumption of the country's energy system has been lost, which means "the onset of a system accident mode." The strikes on the infrastructure of Ukraine began after the terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge and take place against the background of the incessant shelling of residential areas of Donbass, experts remind.
Response by objects
On Friday, an air alert was declared throughout Ukraine. Local media reported explosions in Kiev, Zaporozhye, Dnepropetrovsk, Vinnytsia, Krivoy Rog and other cities. According to local authorities, the Kirovograd region is completely de-energized, Kharkiv, Kremenchuk, and Poltava were left without electricity. The lights also disappeared in several districts of Kiev.
The office of the Ukrainian president said that due to damage to infrastructure, emergency power outages were introduced throughout the country. Ukrenergo has declared an emergency situation due to the loss of more than half of the country's energy system consumption.
Photo: REUTERS/Anna Voitenko
Image source: iz.ru
Strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities are a response to the systematic shelling of residential areas of the Donbass republics, military expert Vasily Dandykin told Izvestia.
— Despite the fact that they have a shortage of ammunition, they do not use them at the front, but hit social facilities — schools, hospitals, — the expert noted. — And in response, we hit specific infrastructure objects — not at homes, not at schools, but at transformers, everything connected with light. What were they hoping for? The fact that they will do such things, and we will be silent? Today is the next wave of our response. Blows occur every day, but with different intensity. Before that, there were drones, now there are missiles, including air-based ones. It will be necessary — the ships of the Black Sea Fleet will go to sea.
The Ukrainian artillery is hitting people who have nothing to do with the military, the expert stressed.
— Maybe the one who will lose the Internet, light, heat, will think a little. And then they rejoiced at the terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge, were delighted, felt a sense of impunity for strikes against Russia. Now our answer, — summed up Vasily Dandykin.
The building of the Donetsk hospital after the shelling of the Ukrainian Armed Forces
Image source: Photo: REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko
Strengthening the defense
On December 16, the Russian armed forces continued fighting in the zone of a special military operation.
"Up to 20 Ukrainian servicemen, two armored combat vehicles and three pickups were destroyed in the Kupyansk direction as a result of the fire damage of the AFU units in the areas of the settlements of Berestove and Kislovka in the Kharkiv region," said the official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.
In the Krasnolimansky direction, during the day, the losses of the VFU amounted to more than 50 servicemen, two infantry fighting vehicles, three pickups and three sabotage and reconnaissance groups.
In Donetsk, Russian troops continue their offensive actions, knocking out Ukrainian formations from their positions. During the day, they repelled three counterattacks. The VFU units were dispersed and pushed back to their original positions, losing more than 40 militants killed and wounded, three armored vehicles and two cars.
In the South Donets direction, an attack attempt by a reinforced company of the VFU was stopped, two sabotage and reconnaissance groups were destroyed, the Defense Ministry said. During the day, up to 50 Ukrainian servicemen and three cars were destroyed.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Konstantin Mikhalchevsky
Image source: iz.ru
Missile troops and artillery hit the command posts of the 1st, 102nd and 108th Air Defense brigades, the VFU missile and artillery weapons depot, the radar station of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system, 64 artillery units in firing positions and 93 troop concentration areas, the ministry said.
The Russian Air defense forces destroyed four drones and two HIMARS rockets in the area of Pervomaisk in the LPR during the day.
In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 344 aircraft, 184 helicopters, 2,673 unmanned aerial vehicles, 396 anti-aircraft missile systems, 7,134 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 931 multiple rocket launchers, 3,689 field artillery and mortars, as well as 7625 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed, Igor Konashenkov listed.
Communication without interruptions
The Russian Defense Ministry told about the servicemen who showed courage and dedication during the fighting.
Major Sergei Kalnitsky was organizing uninterrupted communication when he came under shelling. The relay stations of the radio stations have failed. The officer promptly restored them and re-configured the radio network, thereby ensuring the management of subordinate units and the communication of the command with the higher headquarters.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Konstantin Mikhalchevsky
Image source: iz.ru
"Thanks to the brave and decisive actions of Major Kalnitsky, it was possible to quickly transfer to artillery calculations the coordinates of the locations of artillery and mortar positions of the VFU, which made it possible to destroy equipment and manpower and disrupt the offensive on the defense lines of Russian troops," the military department said.
Senior Ensign Denis Pukha was also involved in the organization of communications of the battalion tactical group. After the shelling of the command post, part of the equipment and communication lines were damaged. Under fire, Denis used a non-standard method of deploying communication channels, which allowed him to automatically switch to another channel, ensuring stable and continuous control of troops. Also during the battle, Denis provided first aid to a wounded comrade, pulled him out from under fire and took him to shelter. Senior Ensign Denis Pukha was awarded a state award for the courage and heroism shown during the combat mission, the Ministry of Defense reported.
The area where the Russian units were located was attacked by Ukrainian formations. Guard Corporal Genghis Radnaev joined the battle together with the unit. Constantly maneuvering and changing positions, Genghis personally destroyed the armored car "Cossack" and the BMP. As a result of the successful actions of the guard unit of Corporal Genghis Radnaev, the militant group was completely eliminated, the department said. Thanks to his courage and dedication, the attack was repelled, which made it possible to launch a counteroffensive and throw the enemy back.
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