Ukraine: A major power substation between the Russian-occupied cities of Donetsk and Makiivka was heavily damaged by a series of explosions overnight on 17 November, causing widespread power outages across the region. Local occupation authorities said electricity was disrupted for around 500,000 residents in Donetsk, Makiivka, Horlivka and Yasynuvata.
Denis Pushilin, the Moscow-installed head of the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic,” said emergency crews were working through the night and that some areas had partial supply restored by morning.
Footage released by Ukrainian monitoring group Exilenova+ showed several large explosions at the Chaikyne substation, followed by blackouts across surrounding districts. The facility functions as a key 330 / 220 / 110 / 35 kV high-voltage hub connecting the Starobesheve Thermal Power Plant and ZuGRES-2 to the regional distribution grid.
The site contains large transformers, switching equipment and automated protection systems, making it critical to power flows in the occupied part of Donetsk region. The substation also supports infrastructure used by Russian military units based in and around the city.
Ukrainian military outlet Militarnyi reported that the loss of Chaikyne is likely to disrupt Russian field communications, affect repair and maintenance bases, and force occupation forces to redirect resources to restore or reroute power.
In a separate incident, transmissions from Russia’s shortwave station UVB-76 – often referred to as “the buzzer” – were briefly interrupted following a reported drone strike on a nearby substation earlier in the week.
Source: United24 Media
