On Sunday, Russia carried out its largest airstrike on Ukraine in nearly three months, firing 120 missiles and 90 drones.
The attack killed at least seven people and caused extensive damage to Ukraine’s power grid, resulting in widespread power outages.
Ukrainians had been anticipating an assault on the energy infrastructure, fearing prolonged blackouts as winter approaches and heightened psychological pressure during this crucial phase of the war.
Key points
- The strikes targeted critical infrastructure, including energy facilities in Kyiv, Mykolaiv, and Odesa.
- Ukrainian air defense systems intercepted 104 out of 120 missiles and 42 out of 90 drones, according to Ukrainian military reports.
- President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the attack impacted all regions of Ukraine, causing severe damage to power stations.
- In Mykolaiv, two people were killed in a drone attack, while two others died in a strike at a rail depot in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
- In Kyiv, a residential building caught fire because of falling debris, leaving at least two people injured.
Context
- This strike is part of a larger Russian campaign to damage Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and cripple its military and industrial capacity.
- The airstrikes follow Donald Trump’s recent U.S. presidential election win. His promise to end the war, although vague on specifics, has sparked concerns that international diplomatic pressure could intensify.
- Poland, a NATO member and Ukraine’s Western neighbor scrambled its air force during the attack as a precaution.
Looking ahead
- The continued assault on Ukraine’s energy system aims to weaken the country’s ability to function effectively during the winter months.
- Ukrainian forces are under growing pressure as Russian troops make gains in the eastern Donbas region, despite suffering significant casualties.
- Diplomatic tensions are also rising as Ukraine criticizes international interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, especially following a recent phone call between Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
