Russia launches a “massive” nationwide missile attack on Ukraine’s energy grid

Tanya Dzafarowa/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC “UA:PBC”/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

(LONDON) — On Sunday night, Russia launched a major missile and drone strike against Ukraine, targeting power plants and energy infrastructure across the country.

The shelling was the largest attack on Ukraine since the end of August and the third largest this year. Rockets and drones pounded cities, including the capital Kyiv, forcing people into basements, subway stations and other underground shelters.

Ukrainian authorities reported at least five dead.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, wrote in Telegram on Sunday morning that a “massive strike” was inflicted on “all regions of Ukraine.”

According to Zelenskyi, about 120 missiles and 90 drones were launched across the country, Ukrainian air defense shot down more than 140 targets.

Ukraine’s air force said the projectiles used in the attack included at least eight Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, one of Moscow’s most advanced weapons. There was also one hypersonic Zircon cruise missile and more than 100 Kalibr cruise missiles.

The Air Force noted that Ukrainian defenders shot down 144 targets — 102 missiles and 42 drones. Among the Russian aircraft that participated in the assault were Tu-160 and Tu-95 strategic bombers, the Air Force said, as well as Su-34, Su-27 and MiG-31.

“We are grateful to all our air defense,” the president said, noting that American-made F-16 fighters are involved in the defense.

Strikes and explosions occurred in Kyiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro, and western Ukraine. It is reported that the Black Sea port city of Odesa was left without power after the strikes.

Zelensky reported that as a result of a drone strike in the southern city of Mykolaiv, two people were killed and six others were injured, including two children.

Meanwhile, the Polish military said Russian missile fire had prompted them to raise fighter jets to protect their skies.

Minister of Energy of Ukraine Herman Galushchenko confirmed on the social network that the strikes were aimed at the energy grid of Ukraine. The attack forced authorities to impose an emergency blackout in Kyiv and at least one other region.

Russia has targeted Ukraine’s power grid as winter approaches. The country’s central heating systems have been switched on for the past few weeks as temperatures have dipped below freezing. The strikes threaten to leave millions of people without electricity.

Since the start of the full-scale war in February 2022, Moscow has launched missile and drone strikes against Ukraine. Russia has generally expanded its long-range strikes as winter approaches, hoping to disrupt Ukraine’s energy grid.

This year appears to be no different, with recent months bringing increased drone and missile attacks across the country as a change in the US administration prompts talk of resuming peace talks.

Zelenskyy told Radio Ukraine on Saturday that Kyiv expects Russia to “continue combined strikes” in the winter. “You have to prepare for everything,” he added.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said the attack was Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “real response” to recent talks with world leaders — an apparent jab at German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who spoke to Putin on Friday for the first time in two years, despite denials of Ukraine.

“Russia has carried out one of the largest air attacks: drones and missiles against peaceful cities, sleeping civilians, critical infrastructure,” Sibiha said. “This is the real answer of the war criminal Putin to all those who called and visited him recently. We need peace through strength, not appeasement.”