On Thursday, Russia launched a large-scale assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving millions without power as winter temperatures near freezing. This is the second major attack this month, further straining Ukraine’s energy grid.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the strikes were retaliation for Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles on Russian territory. He also warned that future targets might include “decision-making centers” in Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the attacks as a “despicable escalation,” accusing Russia of using cruise missiles equipped with cluster munitions.
“Now is the time to strengthen our positions—the position of Ukraine and our partners,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly address.
U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the attack as “outrageous,” calling for continued support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression. The strike immediately cut power to over 1 million people, with millions more facing intensified rolling blackouts.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 91 missiles and 97 drones, with 12 hitting targets, primarily energy and fuel facilities. While 79 missiles and 35 drones were intercepted, officials acknowledged the challenges posed by large-scale attacks to Ukraine’s air defense systems.
The assault raises fears of prolonged power outages during the harsh winter, further straining Ukraine’s already fragile energy system. Officials noted that this marks the 11th major attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since March, with nearly half of the country’s generating capacity damaged during the war.
“Russia has knocked out about half of Ukraine’s available power generation,” a source in the energy sector revealed. Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, which supply more than half of the nation’s electricity, were reportedly disconnected from the grid ahead of the attack as a protective measure.
In western Ukraine, regions such as Lviv, Volyn, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi, and Zhytomyr experienced widespread power outages, leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity. State oil and gas company Naftogaz confirmed that its facilities were also targeted. Emergency measures, including the deployment of generators, were implemented to ensure that hospitals, schools, and other essential infrastructure could maintain heating and water supplies.
Ukraine’s air force noted that Russia employed advanced tactics, such as thermal and radar decoys and electronic warfare devices, to challenge the operation of Ukraine’s Soviet-era air defense systems. Foggy weather further complicated efforts to intercept drones.
“Western systems are much more effective in such conditions,” the air force noted, reiterating the need for additional advanced equipment to cover Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.
The attack comes on the heels of significant advances by Russian ground forces, representing their fastest progress in two years. Additionally, Moscow recently escalated the conflict by deploying a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine.
“Putin does not want peace. We must force him into peace through strength,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, calling for increased air defense and long-range capabilities from Western allies.
Officials across Ukraine are striving to minimize the impact of the strikes on civilians. Generators are being utilized to supply emergency power for heating and water systems in essential facilities as temperatures steadily decline.
