Russian drone kills utility worker repairing power lines in Sumy region

A Russian drone attack on Sunday killed a utility worker and wounded a second in Konotop district of Sumy region, when a repair team's vehicle was struck while its crew was responding to damage to the local electricity network.

Details of the attack

According to Sumy Regional Military Administration head Oleg Hryhorov, the crew from the district power company had set out to repair a section of the grid that had been damaged earlier. The enemy drone hit the vehicle directly, and the car caught fire and burned completely. The 53-year-old driver died at the scene. A 50-year-old electrician sustained injuries and was hospitalised.

Context

The attack is part of a broader pattern of Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. On the same day, Russia launched more than 323 drones against Ukraine, of which 310 were destroyed by air defences. Strikes on repair and emergency crews represent a deliberate escalation: by targeting those who fix damaged infrastructure, Russia prolongs blackouts for civilians and hinders Ukraine's ability to restore power after attacks.