Crimea plunged into darkness after blaze engulfs Kerch power plant Half of Crimea loses power as flames engulf Kerch plant after strikes© RBC-Ukraine (UK) Large parts of Russian-controlled Crimea were left without electricity on Monday after a major fire erupted at a thermal power plant in Kerch following reported overnight strikes. The incident marks the latest blow to critical infrastructure on the peninsula, as Ukrainian attacks continue to target energy, logistics and military facilities far behind the front line. Fireball Over Kerch Sparks Blackout Reports from local monitoring channels said a thermal power plant in Kerch's Arshyntseve district caught fire after a suspected strike. Initial information suggests a storage tank at the facility was hit, triggering a large blaze. Satellite imagery reportedly showed a plume of smoke stretching for dozens of kilometres across the eastern Crimean sky. The fire quickly fuelled speculation that another key piece of infrastructure had been successfully targeted in the escalating campaign against Russian-controlled assets. Half The Peninsula Left Without Power Occupation authorities acknowledged widespread power outages but attributed the disruption to unspecified "technological issues" in electrical networks. The blackout affected major population centres including Yevpatoria, Saky and Dzhankoi, along with several surrounding districts. Residents across large areas of the peninsula faced sudden disruptions as electricity supplies failed. Energy provider Krymenergo said emergency repair teams had been deployed and restoration work was underway. Officials claimed power could be fully restored within 24 hours. Strikes Intensify Across Crimea The power plant fire followed reports of a large-scale overnight drone attack across Crimea. Explosions were reported near multiple sites, while authorities temporarily halted traffic on the strategically important Crimean Bridge. The disruption highlights the growing pressure on Russian forces tasked with defending the peninsula's transport and energy networks. Infrastructure Becomes Front-Line Target The latest incident comes after a series of reported Ukrainian strikes over the weekend targeting gas facilities, oil terminals, air defence systems and logistics hubs across Crimea. As attacks reach deeper into Russian-controlled territory, Moscow faces an increasingly difficult balancing act: protecting military assets while keeping essential civilian infrastructure operational. Monday's blackout underlined just how vulnerable that network remains. Half of Crimea loses power as flames engulf Kerch plant after strikes
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