Kyiv: In a significant escalation of tensions, Russia launched a major missile strike on Ukrainian energy facilities on Thursday, marking the most extensive attack in weeks. Ukrainian officials interpreted this assault as the commencement of a new air campaign aimed at disrupting the national power grid.
Reports indicated that power disruptions occurred in five Ukrainian regions spanning the western, central, and eastern areas of the country. This incident stirred memories of last winter’s multiple air strikes on critical infrastructure, which resulted in widespread power outages during the harsh cold. Tragically, at least 18 individuals, including a nine-year-old girl, were wounded during these air strikes, and separate overnight shelling by Russian forces claimed two lives, according to a regional governor.
Lawmaker Andrii Osadchuk expressed his concerns on the situation, saying, “Winter is coming. Tonight (Russia) renews missile attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure,” underscoring the severity of the situation.
Ukrenergo, the grid operator, reported that this was the first Russian attack on power infrastructure in six months and confirmed damage to facilities in western and central regions. The attack resulted in blackouts affecting the Rivne, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions.
Russia’s Defence Ministry, in a statement, claimed that its attack targeted military industry facilities, radio intelligence installations, and centers used for the training of sabotage groups. It asserted that all its objectives were successfully struck.
Ukraine has been diligently working to repair its infrastructure following the devastating attacks last winter, which left nearly half of its energy system in ruins and compelled grid operators to implement regular rolling power cuts. While Ukraine has improved its air defenses with Western assistance, defending against attacks across its vast territory remains an immense challenge.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, currently on a visit to the United States after the U.N. General Assembly, unequivocally condemned what he referred to as “another massive attack.” Ahead of a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, he highlighted Ukraine’s urgent requirements on the Telegram messaging app, stating, “More air defense. More sanctions. More support for Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines.”