A strike near the Khmelnytskyi NPP: The number of victims in Slavuta increased to 18

As a result of the fall of drone debris in Slavuta, Khmelnytskyi region, 18 people were injured, two of them are in critical condition in intensive care. The city is located near a nuclear power plant. Vasyl Sydor, Mayor of the city, reported on this.

"As of now, we have 18 injured, two of them are in intensive care... All of them are civilians," Vasyl Sydor shared. According to him, there is "a lot" of damage in the city.

"All educational facilities have been damaged - 28 facilities, with varying levels of damage. A hospital, industrial enterprises, more than 300 high-rise buildings, and the houses were damaged," the Mayor added.

Broken windows in the bedroom of one of Slavuta's kindergartens, October 25, 2023, Slavuta, Khmelnytskyi region. Photo credits: Suspilne Khmelnytskyi

Previously, the Regional Military Administration reported that the drone attack in the Shepetivka district, Khmelnytskyi region, damaged the territory of a critical infrastructure facility and destroyed non-residential premises, residential buildings, and vehicles.

Sixteen people were hospitalized. The explosive wave after the UAV debris hit the critical infrastructure facility was so powerful that it damaged many buildings in Slavuta. Communication, water, electricity, and gas supply have already been restored in the city, the Mayor of Slavuta emphasized.

Slavuta and NPP on the map

"At four a.m., people started cleaning up and restoring the damage on their own, and everyone is working today.

I am pleased that all the neighboring towns approached me and provided their teams. We have restored educational institutions to the maximum extent possible. As for the restoration of the housing stock, it will take more than one day," said Sydor.

The Mayor noted that there are no military units or facilities in the city, so it is likely that the Russian army was targeting critical infrastructure. "Probably, it is the fact that we are 10 kilometers from the nuclear power plant, and this is an attempt to damage energy facilities, a threat to damage the nuclear power plant. I think this is true since I have no other versions of why the peaceful city of Slavuta was targeted," Vasyl Sydor said.

Khmelnytskyi NPP

After last year's attacks, the authorities and nuclear engineers took the necessary steps to secure the NPPs and prevent them from being disconnected from the general power grid.

The plants are equipped with diesel generators in case of a blackout.