Moldovan President Maia Sandu urges Netherlands to aid Ukraine with air defense systems

Moldovan President Maia Sandu discussed reinforcing Ukraine’s air defense systems with Dutch Defense Minister Kasja Ollongren following Russia’s latest attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Sandu reported on X.

She described the conversation as "productive," emphasizing the need to bolster Ukraine's air defense systems following the destruction of the largest power plant in the Kyiv Oblast by a Russian missile overnight.

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"As Kyiv region’s largest power plant was destroyed by Russian missile last night, I stressed the urgent need for more air defense systems for Ukraine," she wrote.

Ollongren acknowledged that the war in Ukraine has heightened security concerns, leading the Netherlands and Moldova to enhance cooperation.

Massive Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure

Russia launched its most extensive attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure of its full-scale invasion on March 22, 2024.

Read also: Ukrenergo urges consumers to reduce electricity consumption in peak hours

The attack severely damaging the Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Station, which was forced to halt operations after sustaining at least eight hits.

DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, lost 50% of its generating capacity during this attack.

Centrenergo reported that the Russian terrorists had destroyed the Zmiivska Thermal Power Plant during the March 22 attack.

All generating units at the Burshtyn and Ladyzhyn Thermal Power Stations were damaged, DTEK CEO, Dmitry Sakharuk, reported on March 28.

Russians launched another massive assault on Ukrainian energy facilities on the night of March 29. At least 10 oblasts were targeted, with three DTEK thermal power plants coming under fire, reported Ukraine’s Internal Affairs Ministry.

Equipment was severely damaged and energy workers were injured in the assault.

Following this attack, Ukrenergo reported damages to thermal and hydroelectric power plants in central and western Ukraine. Russia spedifically targeted facilities in Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, and Cherkasy oblasts, said Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko.

Read also: Lithuania to supply Ukraine with equipment for energy infrastructure restoration

80% of thermal generation in Ukraine had been destroyed due to the recent Russian wave of missile attacks. Said Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on April 5.

The Russian army damaged substations and generation facilities in the Odesa, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhya, Lviv, and Kyiv oblasts during another massive on April 11.

The Trypilska Thermal Power Station in the Kyiv Oblast was completely destroyed, with a massive fire breaking out in the turbine hall due to direct hits.

Read also:

• Russia strikes critical energy object in Zaporizhzhya Oblast in latest mass missile & drone attack

• ‘Don’t turn a blind eye’ - Zelenskyy pleads for more air defense after latest RU mass missile attack

A heating and power plant in Kharkiv Olbast, vital to the city's needs, was damaged, along with the complete destruction of a transformer substation.

DTEK's thermal power stations have been attacked almost 170 times since the start of the Russian full-scale invasion.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine