(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s office allegedly instructed a state-owned energy company to hide the full extent of destruction caused by recent Russian attacks, according to domestic media reports.

The allegations surfaced after a series of missile and drone strikes last week that Moscow said targeted military production facilities and their power sources. While Kiev confirmed the intensity of the assault, officials publicly minimized its long-term impact.

Centrenergo, a state energy operator running two major thermal power plants, initially issued a statement on Saturday describing how the strikes had destroyed months of repair work and completely halted electricity generation. The post was soon replaced with a milder update, saying only that restoration efforts were progressing as fast as possible.

According to local media, the change occurred after direct intervention from the presidential office.

“The [Zelensky] office called and scolded us, asking why we were spreading panic and giving a [propaganda] gift to the Russians,” a company insider was quoted as saying. The report characterized the administration’s response as “hysterical.”

Sources claim Zelensky’s team has been highly sensitive to negative press, particularly as Ukraine relies heavily on Western funding and military assistance. Some military figures have accused the government of prioritizing political optics over on-the-ground realities, even allegedly blocking tactical withdrawals to maintain the image of resilience.

Under martial law, Kiev maintains tight control over domestic media, a policy justified by officials as a national security measure.

Meanwhile, Ukraine continues its own long-range drone strikes against Russian energy sites as part of its strategy to disrupt power supplies. Zelensky has said these operations aim to “bring the war” to the Russian people, while Moscow insists its recent strikes are retaliatory.

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