Drone Attack Damages Key Power Infrastructure in Occupied Donetsk, Triggering Widespread Blackouts

Explosions and fire broke out overnight at the Zuivska Thermal Power Plant in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region following a drone strike, as reported by monitoring group Exilenova+ on November 18.

The attack targeted the facility located in the town of Zuhres, about 40 km east of Donetsk.

Footage shared online captures the distinct buzz of incoming drones, the sound of Russian air defenses engaging, and a loud blast.

Moments later, flames could be seen spreading across the site. According to Exilenova+, the strike likely hit a transformer connected to the plant’s second boiler, knocking it offline.

Following the explosions, residents across occupied Donetsk, Makiivka, and Ilovaisk reported major power disruptions, with some areas, including Ilovaisk, reportedly going completely dark.

The occupation administration later acknowledged the attack, claiming the nearby Starobesheve power plant had also been targeted by drones the same night. They said multiple settlements across the Russian-held areas of Donetsk region were left without electricity due to the strikes.

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War in Ukraine

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The Zuivska power plant, with an estimated output of 1.2–1.3 GW across four turbines, has been under Russian control since 2014 and plays a key role in supplying electricity to occupied territories in eastern Ukraine.

Earlier, a series of overnight explosions struck a major power substation between the Russian-occupied cities of Donetsk and Makiivka, plunging large parts of the region into darkness and cutting electricity to about 500,000 residents.

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