Statement: Russia Launches Massive Attacks to Destroy Homes, Workplaces, Energy, and Economy of Ukraine

The Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine, an affiliated organization of the ITUC and ETUC, calls upon the international trade union community and the governments of democratic countries to strengthen support for Ukraine at a time when Russia is causing large-scale destruction of residential buildings, civil and energy infrastructure, and purposefully destroying the economy and workplaces.

On March 21-22, 2024, the Russian army carried out the largest attacks on Ukrainian cities and towns, targeting energy infrastructure, while continuing attempts to attack and occupy more Ukrainian territories.

During the night of March 21, Russian troops fired 31 rockets at residential areas of the capital Kyiv and other cities. According to experts’ estimates, Russia spent $390 million on this massive attack. On the same day, the Russian Armed Forces attacked a civilian enterprise in Kharkiv, resulting in the deaths of three men and two women.

On March 22, Russia continued its missile terrorism, launching 60 UAVs and 90 missiles of various types, targeting energy facilities and residential areas of cities. Explosions were heard in at least ten regions: Khmelnytskyi, Lviv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhya, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kirovohrad, Sumy, and Vinnytsia regions.  The Russian Armed Forces launched twelve missile strikes on Zaporizhzhya today.

As a result of this Russian troops’ attack, Ukraine’s largest hydroelectric power station, the Dniprovska HPP, was damaged. Additionally, during the massive missile attack on Ukraine at 5:10 a.m., the PL-750kV Dniprovska external overhead line, that is connecting the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant with the unified energy system of Ukraine, was disconnected. Currently, the Zaporizhzhya NPP is connected to the Ukrainian power system by a power transmission line that was repaired by Ukrainian energy workers just last week after another Russian shelling.

Russia’s actions resulted in blackouts, communication and water supply problems in various cities and regions of Ukraine, including Kharkiv, Sumy, Lviv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Odesa, and others. The big industrial city Kharkiv is without power today. This poses risks for lives of workers, hospital patients, evacuees from front-line areas and settlements under constant shelling. Additionally, the population cannot access bank services, ATMs, supermarkets, pharmacies etc.

According to the Independent Trade Union of Mineworkers of Ukraine, more than 1,000 workers of mining enterprises in the Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions are in danger underground due to the power outage. Rescue operations are currently underway to bring these miners to the surface.

Additionally, several sections of the Ukrainian railway were de-energized today, resulting in 14 trains being delayed. This situation hampers the evacuation of civilians.

We emphasize that Russia is causing civilian casualties, including workers at their workplaces, and is actively destroying Ukraine’s economy and energy industry on a daily basis. It is important to note that Russian troops employ the tactic of double missile strikes, targeting rescuers and medical workers who arrive at the scene of shelling to aid victims for a second time. In violation of international humanitarian law, Russian troops have killed medics and rescue workers during their work.

We address the international democratic community with the following appeals:

  • To continue providing economic and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
  • To contribute to the supply of military aid aimed at protecting Ukraine and its population.
  • To intensify sanctions against the terrorist regime of Russia, as this measure can significantly limit the financial resources and technology exports essential for sustaining the ongoing bloody war.
  • To ensure the possibility of utilizing frozen Russian assets by directing them towards assisting Ukraine.
  • To isolate and remove Russian political, public, and trade union figures from participating in international organizations as representatives of a country engaged in terrorist activities against the sovereign and independent nation of Ukraine and its citizens.

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Consequences of Russian attacks on March 22, 2024

Zaporizhzhia and Zaporizhzhia oblast

Dnipro HPP

Khmelnytskyi

Consequences of Russian attacks on March 21, 2024

Donetsk region

Kharkiv

 

Kyiv

 

 

 

 

 

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