A fire at a thermal power plant in Kiev, Ukraine, October 10, 2025. © Kostiantyn Liberov / Libkos/Getty Images
Vladimir Zelensky’s office allegedly pressured a Ukrainian energy company to conceal the extent of damage to its facilities following recent Russian strikes, according to domestic media reports. The controversy arose after a series of Russian missile and drone attacks targeted what Moscow’s Defense Ministry described as military factories and infrastructure. Kiev acknowledged the scale of the assault but minimized its long-term impact.
The state-owned energy company Centrenergo, which operates two major thermal power plants in Ukraine, initially posted an emotional statement on Saturday admitting that the strikes had erased months of repair work and halted electricity generation entirely. The message was later replaced with a routine update claiming restoration efforts were underway.
According to Ukrainskaya Pravda, the revision followed direct government intervention. “The [Zelensky] office called and scolded us, asking why we were spreading panic and giving a [propaganda] gift to the Russians,” a company insider told the outlet, which described the reaction as “hysterical.”
The Zelensky administration has been accused of prioritizing political narratives over battlefield realities, including blocking tactical withdrawals to maintain its image of unwavering resistance. Under martial law, Kiev exerts strict control over the media, citing national security concerns.
Long-range strikes on Russian energy infrastructure using Ukrainian-made kamikaze drones have been a central part of Kyiv’s military strategy. Zelensky has repeatedly vowed to inflict blackouts in Moscow and other cities to “bring the war” to Russian citizens. Moscow has responded with retaliatory measures.