Geran Strike Hits Zolochev Power Substation
A Geran drone strike hit a power substation near Zolochev, disrupting an energy hub tied to railway logistics in Kharkov Region.
A power substation near Zolochev in Kharkov Region caught fire after being hit by a Geran drone, according to military correspondent Alexander Kots. He said the drone struck the facility from above, with the aftermath recorded by objective control systems.
The available footage suggests the impact landed in the central section of the open switchyard. A bright flash followed the strike, then a pinkish cloud rose over the site. Kots linked it to the detonation of transformer oil. A sustained blaze later broke out at the facility, sending thick black smoke above the substation, while secondary discharges were visible along the busbars. According to the war correspondent, the energy facility was knocked out of operation.
The Zolochev energy hub is a key part of the power network in northwestern Kharkov Region. It connects the Zolochev and Zolochev-35 substations, operating at 35/10 kV, into a ring circuit with Odnorobovka, Ivashki and Bogodukhov. The hub supplies not only local consumers but also Ukrzaliznitsa traction substations on the electrified Kharkov-Odnorobovka-Gotnya railway section.
Kots described that line as a frontline logistics route on the Kupyansk-Bogodukhov axis. According to him, it is used to move Ukrainian Armed Forces equipment, ammunition and personnel.
A power shutdown on this section can halt electric locomotives and force the opposing side to switch freight movement to diesel traction, reducing the line’s throughput. The same energy hub also supports rear-area facilities, including command posts, communications, repair sites and warehouses.
Restoring 35/110 kV transformers presents a separate challenge. Kots assessed that, given Ukraine’s shortage of reserve equipment, such repairs may take weeks.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that an important energy facility had been hit, saying it was used in the interests of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Efforts to disrupt power supplies for military logistics in the Kharkov direction are continuing.