Russia launches missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure

Russia has launched its biggest missile and drone attack on Ukraine since August, targeting the country’s energy infrastructure as winter approaches.

Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Galushchenko confirmed the ongoing attack, which has caused widespread power outages and raised major concerns about possible long-term damage to Ukraine’s already fragile power grid.

The rocket attack, which began early Sunday, is described by officials as one of the most significant in recent months.

Explosions were reported in several cities, including Kiev, Odesa, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhiav. At least two people were killed and several others injured in Mykolaiv.

Kiev’s air defenses successfully intercepted many incoming drones and missiles, but debris from the intercepted projectiles caused damage, including fires in residential buildings.

Poland, Ukraine’s NATO neighbor, also took precautions in response to the attack, deploying fighter jets to patrol its airspace.

The move underlines growing concerns that the conflict could extend beyond Ukraine’s borders.

Galushchenko stated that Russian forces primarily targeted electricity generation and transmission facilities, raising fears of extensive power outages during the winter months.

In Kiev, energy authorities have preemptively cut power to several city districts, including the capital and surrounding areas, to prevent damage from a possible spike in the electricity grid.

The strikes have heightened concerns about the resilience of Ukraine’s energy system, which is already under significant pressure from previous Russian attacks aimed at destabilizing the country’s infrastructure.

Ukrainian officials have been preparing for these types of large-scale attacks for weeks, fearing that Russia will seek to disrupt energy supplies ahead of harsh winter conditions, which would further burden citizens and disrupt daily life.

The Russian missile attack is part of the ongoing campaign to destabilize Ukraine and exert psychological pressure on its population.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the rocket attacks as Moscow’s “true response” to recent diplomatic contacts, including a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the first such communication in almost two years.

The extent of damage caused by the missile attack is still being assessed. In addition to Kiev and Mykolaiv, other regions, including Dnipropetrovsk and Volyn, also reported damage to energy infrastructure.

Local authorities have warned that repairs could take days or weeks, with officials already urging residents to conserve energy to minimize the impact of the outages.

In response, Ukraine’s air force has urged civilians to take cover and stay indoors during airstrikes, while emergency services have been dispatched to fire-hit areas in Kiev.

The Ukrainian military has also confirmed that it is actively dealing with Russian missiles, drones and ballistic threats.

This latest missile attack follows a significant increase in Russian airstrikes since early autumn, with Russian forces increasingly targeting critical infrastructure in Ukrainian cities.

Since the war began in February 2022, the energy sector has been a key focus of Russia’s strategy to weaken Ukraine’s resolve and disrupt its economy. The winter months are expected to bring even more challenges, with Ukrainian authorities bracing for more strikes targeting energy infrastructure.

In previous major attacks, such as the one on August 26, 2024, Russia used more than 200 drones and missiles to attack cities across Ukraine, causing dozens of casualties.

These strategic missile strikes are part of Russia’s broader military objective of destabilizing Ukraine’s infrastructure and morale.

Poland’s involvement in air defense coordination underlines broader regional concerns about Russian aggression.

As a NATO member, Poland’s security measures serve as a reminder of the possibility of the conflict spreading beyond Ukraine’s borders.

Likewise, diplomatic tensions continue to rise, with leaders such as US President Donald Trump expressing concerns about the escalation of the war.

Trump, who has publicly called for a solution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, has pledged to work on diplomatic solutions if he is re-elected in 2024.

As Russia’s military campaign against Ukraine continues, attacks on the power grid are expected to continue as both sides prepare for a protracted winter conflict.