AMNA NAWAZ: This year, Russia# has launched a series of## deliberate and devastating attacks# on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Taking advantage of gaps and shortages# in Ukraine's air defenses, Russia has## systematically targeted nearly every single# power plant in this country.
Officials here## tell us the last few weeks have been unlike# any they have seen before in this war.
An idyllic scene in the city of# Ukrainka just outside of Kyiv,## but the Russian attack here just three days# earlier is fresh in Gennediy's (ph) mind.
GENNEDIY, Ukraine (through translator):# It was about 5:00 a.m. Everybody woke up## because it was a massive explosion,# and then a few more explosions.
AMNA NAWAZ: The 64-year-old local# builder struggles to describe the moment.
GENNEDIY (through translator): You need to hear# it to understand it.
You need to live through it.
AMNA NAWAZ: The airstrikes destroyed# their target, the Trypilska power plant,## one of the country's largest power plants and# the main electricity source for three million## people in the Kyiv region and surrounding areas.# It's also the center of this city's livelihood.
ALINA, Ukraine (through# translator): More than half## the city's populat.. AMNA NAWAZ: Nineteen-year-old Alina# has lived here her whole life.
She## had a clear view of the attack and# aftermath from her window at home.
What did you think when you# heard the explosions that night?
ALINA (through translator): What's going# to happen in the city?
Will the rockets## come into the city?
Will they hit houses?
What# will happen the next day with heat, with water?
AMNA NAWAZ: In the early morning hours of# April 11, Trypilska was one of multiple## power plants hit by the Russians.
That followed# a March 29 attack on other power plants,## which followed March 22 strikes also# targeting Ukraine's energy system.
DMYTRO SAKHARUK, CEO, DTEK: They try, they# test, they see the results, and just repeat.
AMNA NAWAZ: Dmytro Sakharuk is executive director# of DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy## company.
He says Russia has attacked power plants# earlier in the war, but this year is different.
DMYTRO SAKHARUK: The efficiency# these days, unfortunately,## is higher because of Russians develop their# skills.
And this is basically the third year## of war.
They improve the technology.
They, I# guess, install some more advanced guiding systems.
AMNA NAWAZ: When you say efficiency,## you mean they're more efficient# at causing more damage t.. (CROSSTALK) DMYTRO SAKHARUK: Causing more damage, yes.
AMNA NAWAZ: So far, an estimated 60 percent# of Ukraine's power-generating capacity may## have already been impacted by# Russian drones and missiles.## Rolling blackouts have been# imposed in several areas.
Everything was different.
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, Ukrainian.. AMNA NAWAZ: President Volodymyr# Zelenskyy says Ukraine's inability## to defend its energy infrastructure# is a microcosm of larger battlefield## challenges, as they face a critical# artillery and air defense shortage.
At the Trypilska plant, he tells us, his forces# intercepted seven of 11 Russian missiles,## but they were four missiles# short of saving the plant.
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY (through translator):# When you're running out of missiles,## people are dying.
Trypilska is just the most# recent small example of a large challenge.
AMNA NAWAZ: They were four missiles short.
That# is what made the difference between protecting## that plant and that plant being destroyed.
How# often do you find yourself in that situation?
DMYTRO SAKHARUK: I guess, all our plants,## we're in the same situation where, partially,# the incoming missiles were intercepted and## second wave or another part were# not, and they just hit the target.
AMNA NAWAZ: Sakharuk now keeps a flak jacket for## facility visits.
His teams# have been issued the same.
DMYTRO SAKHARUK: Like soldiers,## basically.
They have helmets.
.. AMNA NAWAZ: They're like soldiers# on their own front line, then?
DMYTRO SAKHARUK: It's -- we# call it energy front line.
AMNA NAWAZ: For Alina, who lives on that# front line, Russia's mission is clear.
ALINA (through translator): To destroy our nation,## to destroy our moral spirit.# But they won't succeed at all.
AMNA NAWAZ: They won't succeed.
Why not?
ALINA (through translator): Because they## attacked the wrong people.
We are much stronger# than them.
We have morals and less fear than them.
AMNA NAWAZ: Gennediy says he was turned away## twice from the military recruitment# center, past their age 60 cutoff.
GENNEDIY (through translator): When people# are dying, when children are dying, women,## how could you not be worried?
As a# father, I'm worried for my children.
AMNA NAWAZ: This is hard for you to talk about.
GENNEDIY (through translator):# Well, you can hear it in my voice.
AMNA NAWAZ: This father is now# bracing to send his own son to## fight in a war that's already come to their home.
GENNEDIY (through translator): We understand what# it's like to be without lights, without water,## but we will survive.
They don't understand that.
AMNA NAWAZ: Officials here are# scrambling to repair any of the## plants that they can and to keep# power flowing into people's homes.
But they say, until Ukraine can really defend its# skies against those Russian drones and missiles,## that no part of the country's critical# infrastructure is truly safe -- Geoff.
GEOFF BENNETT: And, Amna, as President# Zelenskyy told you in the interview yesterday,## Ukraine really needs Congress to# approve aid to help fill the gaps## in its air defense and replenish its artillery.
What's been the response so far to Speaker Mike## Johnson's plan for separate bills# for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan aid?
AMNA NAWAZ: Yes, Geoff, no direct# response to that proposal so far,## but sort of an indirect response, if you will, in# what's become his nightly address to the nation.
Tonight, Zelenskyy reiterated some of the concerns# he's made to us as well about what he sees as## a different standard for security for Israel# and for Ukraine.
In part, he had this to say.
He said: "The world must ensure true# equality in the protection from terror,## so, when we face the same terror and the# same strikes from missiles and drones,## the rules are equal in Ukraine,# Europe and other parts of the world."
Now, we know the president told us yesterday# he found it strange that Republican lawmakers## would separate out that Ukraine aid from the# other bills, mainly because he said he got a## firm commitment from Speaker Johnson when# they spoke directly just a few weeks ago.
But a bit of news from the president's office# today.
He is now requesting an urgent meeting## of the NATO-Ukraine Council.
That's the joint# body that was put together last year where NATO## leaders and the president of Ukraine can meet# to share and talk about shared concerns.
And,## of course, that says they're# seeking, full membership of NATO.
But we did ask Zelenskyy's office for# any additional comment about that aid## proposal in the U.S. Congress.# They say no comment for now.## They say they're going to watch# how the process unfolds -- Geoff.
GEOFF BENNETT: Amna Nawaz in Kyiv tonight,## it's great to see you.
Our# thanks to you and the team there.
AMNA NAWAZ: Thanks, Geoff.
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