KYIV, Ukraine — On Wednesday, Russia initiated a significant assault involving ballistic and cruise missiles across various regions of Ukraine, with a focus on energy facilities. This aggressive act forced officials to implement partial shutdowns of the power grid, despite the challenging freezing winter conditions, as reported by local authorities.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the targeted strikes aimed at “critically important facilities of gas and energy infrastructure” which play a vital role in sustaining Ukraine’s military industrial complex. However, the ministry did not disclose specific locations or additional information regarding these attacks.
This wave of attacks followed a prior claim from the Russian Defense Ministry indicating it would take action in response to what they alleged was an attack on Russian territory using multiple missiles supplied by Western nations. While Kyiv has not verified such an attack, they did announce on Tuesday that they had targeted an oil refinery, a fuel storage facility, a chemical plant producing ammunition, and two anti-aircraft missile systems, with missile and drone strikes penetrating approximately 1,100 kilometers (nearly 700 miles) into Russian territory.
The conflict has seen ongoing long-range assaults since its start nearly three years ago. Currently, the frontline stretches about 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from the northeast to the south of Ukraine, where both sides are entrenched in a war of attrition. Despite some advancements by Russian forces over the past year, their progress has been described as slow and costly.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia deployed 43 missiles and 74 drones overnight. In response, Ukrainian defenses successfully shot down 30 missiles and 47 drones, with an additional 27 drones failing to reach their intended targets.
The missile strikes targeted areas ranging from the Lviv region in western Ukraine, near the Polish border, to Kharkiv in the northeast, adjacent to Russia. The state energy provider, Ukrenergo, noted that emergency power outages occurred in six regions as a precautionary measure during these attacks.
Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko expressed the situation on social media, stating, “The enemy continues to terrorize Ukrainians.” By midday, electricity had been restored to some households, but Ukrenergo advised residents to refrain from using high-energy devices.
Russia has consistently attempted to weaken Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, seeking to deprive citizens of essential services like heating, electricity, and running water in an effort to undermine public morale. These attacks also aim to disrupt Ukraine’s defense manufacturing capabilities.
According to a report from the U.N. refugee agency last September, Ukraine has lost over an estimated 60% of its energy generation capacity due to ongoing attacks. Ukrainian authorities are actively working to restore their energy production capabilities, but repeated bombardments have significantly hindered these efforts. Assistance from Western partners has been crucial in the reconstruction process.
In a statement on Telegram, President Zelenskyy highlighted, “It is the middle of winter, and Russia’s goal remains unchanged: our energy infrastructure.” He urged international allies to expedite the promised delivery of air defense systems to Ukraine, stressing that while commitments have been made, they have not yet been fully met.
