Ukrainian Forces Launch Second Missile Attack on Russian Luch CHP in Belgorod

For the second time in 24 hours, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have launched a missile attack on the Luch combined heat and power plant (CHP) in Belgorod, causing a fire to break out at the plant and leaving part of the city without electricity.

This was reported by the local Telegram channel Pepel.

It is reported that the missiles hit one of the plant’s units, and a fire broke out at the facility. Judging by the published photos, the missiles pierced the roof of the power unit.

As a result of the strikes, power supply was cut off in a number of areas, including Sportivna, Budyonnyi, Konev streets, Novyi neighborhood, Yunosti Boulevard, etc., according to the Blatgorod channel.

The night before, during a previous missile strike in Belgorod region, about 40,000 residents of the region’s cities were left without electricity. The attack hit a power substation near the Luch CHP, which had already been attacked on September 28.

According to the governor of the region, “significant” damage to the energy infrastructure in a number of districts of Belgorod and surrounding settlements also resulted in a water supply cut off due to the stoppage of pumps.

CHP Luch is one of two plants that provide heat to the Belgorod residents. The installed electric capacity of the plant is 60 MW, and the thermal capacity is 60 Gcal/hour. The main fuel is natural gas.

The Luch CHP has two power units with an installed electric capacity of 30 MW each, consisting of a gas turbine from the American company General Electric, an electric generator and a hot water recovery boiler with an installed heat output of 31.2 Gcal/hour each.

The day before, Russian troops struck at the energy infrastructure of a number of Ukraine’s border regions, including Sumy. One of the most affected cities is Shostka, where, in addition to energy facilities, the occupiers hit the railway station.

The Russian army targeted a Shostka-Kyiv passenger train. The attack resulted in deaths and injuries.

At a briefing on September 27, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned:

“If there is a threat of a blackout, for example, in the capital of Ukraine, then the Kremlin should know that there will be a blackout in the capital of Russia.”