(23 Mar 2024) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Kyiv, Ukraine - 23 March 2024 1. Exterior of Ukrainian Energy Ministry building 2. Plaque 3. Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Haluschenko walking in and taking seat for interview 4. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Herman Halushchenko, Ukrainian Energy Minister: "This is the largest attack on the energy system throughout the period of the great aggression. They used more than 151 means of attack. It was a mixed attack, a combination of drones and rockets. They actually attacked energy facilities across the entire territory of the state, including generation and transmission facilities. Unfortunately, we have suffered certain hits. If we compare it to even the winter of 2022-2023 when there were massive daily attacks, they then used a maximum of about 100 means of attack simultaneously, during the intensified waves. Therefore, this is the first such massive attack, and the goal is undoubtedly the complete blackout of the state." 5. Ministry logo on banner 6. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Herman Halushchenko, Ukrainian Energy Minister: "The attack affected 12 regions, which is almost half of the country. In total, 1.2 million subscriber points were disconnected. This is a huge number." 7. Banner with photos of damaged energy facilities 8. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Herman Halushchenko, Ukrainian Energy Minister: "Undoubtedly, this will have consequences in terms of power loss in the energy system. At the moment, it's difficult to determine the exact scale and timeframe of the impact because we still have objects where fires need to be extinguished and debris cleared to access the equipment and assess its condition. Whether it's damaged or completely destroyed. However, we can definitely say that the scale of the destruction is significant." 9. Coat of arms on Haluschenko's shirt 10. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Herman Halushchenko, Ukrainian Energy Minister: "In fact, the attacks have continued and are ongoing. Today, there was also an attack on the power lines, and today again they damaged the second power transmission line that feeds the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. So, we are once again approaching a possible ninth blackout, and consequently, this is already a threat to nuclear radiation safety." 11. Haluschenko's face 12. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Herman Halushchenko, Ukrainian Energy Minister: "The most challenging situation is indeed in the regions near the front line because the proximity to the enemy allows them to use ballistic missiles. Ballistic missiles are very difficult targets even for air defense systems. There are indeed some systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, such as the Patriot system. Therefore, it's challenging and impossible to relocate, the main goal is to defend. But specifically for regions where ballistic missiles are used, like the Kharkiv region, it's one of those regions where the distance allows direct shelling with ballistic missiles from the territory of Russia. Undoubtedly, modern systems need to be deployed to address this problem. I don't see any other progressive solution." 13. Haluschenko's hands 14. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Herman Halushchenko, Ukrainian Energy Minister: "We are running out of time, and it's a matter of the state's survival. Therefore, I believe it's crucial to expedite decisions regarding defense, air defense systems, aircraft, in short, everything that is needed today to protect Ukrainians." 15. Exterior of ministry STORYLINE: Halushchenko said Moscow combined sophisticated ballistic and cruise missiles with waves of cheap Iranian-made Shahed drones during the assault. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/aaaff975e3e54669af0c8e0e41b57211