Explosions Disable Major Donetsk Substation, Disrupting Power for 500,000 in Occupied Region

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, according to local occupation authorities on November 17.

According to Denis Pushilin, the Moscow-installed head of the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic,” the attack disrupted power to more than 500,000 consumers across Donetsk, Makiivka, Horlivka, and Yasynuvata.

“Emergency crews are working to restore power,” Pushilin wrote, adding that electricity had been partially restored in several areas by morning.

Footage published by Ukrainian monitoring group Exilenova+ shows large explosions at the Chaikyne substation, followed by widespread outages across multiple districts of the city and its suburbs.

The substation is a 330/220/110/35 kV node, functioning as a high-voltage junction that connects Starobesheve Thermal Power Plant and ZuGRES-2 to the local distribution grid.

It houses heavy transformers, switching equipment, and automated protection systems—making it a critical part of the regional energy network supporting Russian military logistics in eastern Ukraine.

Donetsk remains a central logistics and command hub for Russian occupation forces. Ukrainian military outlet Militarnyi says that disabling Chaikyne will complicate Russian field communications, hamper operations of repair bases and command posts, and force Moscow’s forces to divert additional resources toward restoring or rerouting power supplies.

Earlier, broadcasts from one of Russia’s most enigmatic military radio stations—UVB-76, better known to shortwave listeners as “the buzzler”—were temporarily cut off after a reported drone strike disabled a nearby power substation.

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