Claimed image of a blaze at the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in southwest Russia after an Ukrainian drone strike, June 6, 2024

Wednesday’s Coverage: Zelenskiy — Russia Turning Away From Kharkiv Offensive

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 1659 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has marked the first anniversary of Russia’s destruction of the Nova Kakhovka Dam, causing deadly, damaging floods across the Kherson region in southern Ukraine.

Ukraine War, Day 481: Russia Blew Up Nova Kakhovka Dam and Then Blocked Humanitarian Aid — Reports

At least 90 people were killed in the flooding, 59 in Russian-occupied areas and 31 in Ukrainian-held territory. Ukraine’s hydroelectric company Ukrhydroenerho estimated damage at €2.5 billion ($2.7 billion) with submersion of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Plant.

UPDATE 0654 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has visited Qatar, conferring with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The men discussed Qatar’s involvement in next week’s Global Peace Summit; its role in the return of Ukrainian children deported by Russia; and bilateral economic and security issues.

UPDATE 0651 GMT:

Ukraine’s air defenses intercepted 17 of 18 Iran-type attack drones fired by Russia overnight.

Two Iskander-M ballistic missiles were launched from the Taganrog area in southwest Russia.

UPDATE 0628 GMT:

Russian activist Anna Bazhutova has been sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison by a Moscow court.

Bazhutova’s “crime” was live-streaming of witness testimony about Russia’s mass killings during the occupation of the Kyiv suburb of Bucha in March 2022.

“It’s disgusting and vile. It’s messed up,” she said in court about the punishment.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Trying to counter Russia’s “energy war”, Ukraine struck more Russian oil facilities early Thursday.

A drone attack set afire the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Rostov-on-Don in southwest Russia, forcing it to halt operations.

The complex, one of the largest in southern Russia is around 10 km (6.2 miles) east of the border. It has been targeted by Ukrainian attacks on several occasions, partially shutting down after a March 13 drone strike.

Another drone destroyed an oil tank at a depot in Stary Oskol in the Belgorod region, north of the Ukrainian border.

Power Cuts Across Ukraine

Ukraine has been damaging the support system for Russia’s 27 1/2-month invasion even as Moscow tries to break Ukrainian energy infrastructure and civilian morale with waves of missile and drone strikes.

On Wednesday evening, Ukraine’s grid operator Ukrenergo ordered cuts in 12 regions because of shortages caused by Russia’s assaults this spring.

Moscow has destroyed or seized 50% of Ukraine’s capacity for generation of power. Production is below 20 gigawatts per year, compared to 55 gigawatts per year before Russia’s invasion.

The European Union’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Matherovna, says Russia has destroyed 9.2 gigawatts of annual capacity since late March. A Ukrainian official confirmed that Russian forces damaged 1.2 gigawatts of capacity in overnight strikes on May 31 and June 1.

“In view of repairs to units and the latest destruction, we are catastrophically short of electricity for our needs,” said Serhii Kovalenko, head of Yasno, the largest private power company in Ukraine.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told government officials that the consequences of Russian attacks are “long-term”, and saving of power “will be part of our daily life in the years to come”.

He said, “Our goal is to save at all levels: from large enterprises to individual houses and apartments.”