UkraineS Power Grid Suffers Fresh Blow as Russian Airstrikes Target Thermal plants
Kyiv, Ukraine – Russian airstrikes have inflicted significant damage on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, destroying two thermal power plants in recent attacks, Ukrainian officials reported today. The strikes represent a renewed push to cripple Ukraine’s power grid as the conflict enters its third year.
Details regarding the specific locations of the destroyed plants were not promptly released, but officials confirmed the damage is substantial and will impact electricity supply. The attacks come as Ukraine struggles to maintain its energy infrastructure amidst ongoing Russian aggression.
The strikes are part of a pattern of intensified Russian targeting of Ukrainian energy facilities, aiming to disrupt essential services and weaken the country’s ability to sustain its war effort.
Simultaneously occurring, economic shifts are occurring within Russia itself, driven by Western sanctions imposed after Russia sent troops to Ukraine in early 2022. These sanctions have altered consumer habits, leading to a surge in the popularity of domestic wines.
According to Reuters, French and Italian wines, previously dominant in Russian supermarkets, have been largely replaced by a growing variety of Russian-produced wines. Sales of Russian wine have increased dramatically, now accounting for approximately 60% of the market, up from around 25% a decade ago.
“Russian wine has gained a very high share of the Russian market,” said yuriy Yudich, chairman of the Association of Restaurateurs and Hoteliers, attributing the shift to increased import fees for products from “hostile countries.” imported wine prices have risen by 30-40%, he added, while Russian consumers are “getting used” to the taste of local varieties.
Russian, Georgian, and Armenian wines now dominate Moscow supermarkets. The growth of the Russian wine industry follows decades of disruption, including Soviet anti-alcohol campaigns, but has been revitalized by recent investment in southern Russia’s vineyards.
At the Côte Rocheuse winery near the Black Sea, chief winemaker and director of production Irina Jakovenková stated, “We started selling wine in 2022, and in the same year we opened a winery for tourists. Since then, we have been increasing the volume of production every year, and sales are still growing.” The winery currently produces around 500,000 bottles annually, utilizing classic European grape varieties alongside indigenous Russian types.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly emphasized Russia’s economic resilience to sanctions and has urged businesses and officials to find ways to circumvent them. (TASR)
