Sloviansk Thermal Power Plant May Have Suffered Critical Damage in Russian Attacks
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The Sloviansk Thermal Power Plant in Donetsk Oblast may have suffered critical additional damage.
- Local reports indicate that only three of the facility’s seven chimneys may have survived.
- There is currently no official confirmation of the full extent of the destruction.
- The plant had already been taken out of operation because of repeated Russian attacks and the deteriorating security situation in the region.
The Sloviansk Thermal Power Plant in Donetsk Oblast may have suffered critical additional damage, according to local reports, in what could become another major loss for Ukraine’s already heavily damaged energy infrastructure. Preliminary information indicates that only three of the facility’s seven chimneys may remain standing.
Only Three of Seven Chimneys May Remain
According to the local Telegram channel Mykolaivka – Sloviansk Online, cited by Ukrainian media, only three of the seven chimneys at the Sloviansk plant may have survived.
The reported surviving structures include two chimneys approximately 100 meters high and another measuring around 160 meters. The report describes the overall condition of the facility as critical.
However, there is currently no official confirmation of the full extent of the damage, so the precise condition of the plant’s generating equipment and other infrastructure remains unclear.
A Strategic Energy Facility Near the Front
The Sloviansk Thermal Power Plant is located in Mykolaivka, near Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast. It has historically been an important electricity-generating facility and one of the major employers in the city.
The plant has repeatedly been affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine. Its location close to the frontline has made continued operation increasingly difficult and dangerous.
The Plant Has Already Been Hit Repeatedly
The latest reports come after years of attacks on the facility.
In October 2025, a Russian guided bomb struck the plant’s laboratory building, killing two workers and injuring five others, according to the Kyiv Independent. In February 2026, three employees of the plant were killed in another Russian drone attack, according to Ukraine’s Energy Ministry.
The accumulated damage has made maintaining normal operations increasingly difficult.
The Main Chimney Was Already Destroyed
The plant had suffered another major loss before the latest reports emerged.
In July 2026, local reporting indicated that the facility’s main 250-meter chimney had been destroyed. The loss was described as critical for the operation of the power plant.
The latest information therefore appears to indicate that damage to the facility has continued to accumulate.
Part of a Wider Energy Crisis
The possible destruction of additional infrastructure at Sloviansk comes as Ukraine faces extensive damage to its electricity-generating capacity.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in August that Russian attacks had left virtually no Ukrainian thermal power plant completely undamaged. The situation is creating additional challenges for preparations for the coming winter.
For frontline regions such as Donetsk Oblast, the problem is particularly severe. Energy infrastructure is exposed not only to long-range missile and drone attacks but also to artillery and other strikes from nearby Russian forces.
What Happens Next?
The immediate priority is establishing the actual condition of the Sloviansk plant.
If the latest reports about the surviving chimneys and broader destruction are confirmed, restoring the facility to its previous condition could require extensive reconstruction and significant investment.
For now, however, the information remains preliminary. The reported destruction has not been officially confirmed by the plant operator or Ukrainian authorities.
What is already clear is that the Sloviansk Thermal Power Plant has become another example of how Russia’s prolonged attacks are eroding Ukraine’s energy infrastructure — particularly in areas closest to the battlefield.
