Drones Strike Shatura Power Plant Near Moscow, Triggering Massive Blaze, Video

On the morning of November 23, a drone strike targeted the Shatura Power Plant, one of the largest thermal power stations in the Moscow region. According to Astra, multiple drones struck the facility’s high-voltage transformers, causing a fire and interrupting power distribution.

The report was first published by Astra, a Russian outlet, and supported by visual evidence circulated on social media.

The Russian Ministry of Defense also issued a statement, claiming two drones were intercepted in the Moscow region, but did not acknowledge the damage to the facility.

Sources indicate that between four and five drones successfully reached the site, evading Russian air defense systems and striking oil-filled power transformers. The resulting blaze affected power transmission lines connected to the Unified Energy System.

Shatura Power Plant, located roughly 120 km east of Moscow, has an installed capacity of 1,500 MW and provides both electricity and heat to the region. It operates seven generation units, including a modern 400 MW combined-cycle gas turbine (GE 9FA) commissioned in 2010, which is the plant’s most efficient component with a thermal efficiency of 56%.

The plant’s operator describes it as the most powerful in the Moscow region. Any damage to the GE-manufactured gas turbine would pose a significant repair challenge, as US sanctions restrict the export of such technology and parts to Russia.

Shatura Power Plant, also known as the V.I. Lenin State District Power Station (GRES), was built in 1925 and originally ran on peat. It now uses natural gas as its primary fuel.

Earlier on November 17, explosions struck the Chaikyne substation between Donetsk and Makiivka, cutting power to around 500,000 residents across multiple occupied cities. The high-voltage node supports Russian military logistics, and its failure disrupted electricity in Donetsk, Horlivka, and other areas, according to occupation officials.

On the Frontline of Truth

Our reporters risk their lives to show what’s really happening in Ukraine. Your support keeps them safe, equipped, and reporting.

SUPPORT FRONTLINE REPORTS