Russia launched a significant ballistic and cruise missile strike on Wednesday, targeting various regions across Ukraine, and focusing on energy production.
The attack forced Ukrainian authorities to initiate power grid shutdowns in some areas, despite the harsh winter conditions, according to officials.
The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that the strike was aimed at “critically important facilities” within Ukraine’s gas and energy infrastructure, which are vital to the functioning of the country’s military-industrial complex. However, specific locations and further details were not disclosed.
The assault followed a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defence on Tuesday, which had promised retaliation for an alleged attack on Russian territory involving multiple missiles supplied by the West. Kyiv has not confirmed the incident but did report that on Tuesday, its forces hit an oil refinery, a fuel storage facility, a chemical plant producing ammunition, and two anti-aircraft missile systems in a missile and drone assault that struck targets nearly 1,100 kilometres (around 700 miles) inside Russia.
Long-range attacks have become a hallmark of the ongoing war, with the front line stretching across approximately 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) from northeast to southern Ukraine. Both sides have been locked in a war of attrition, with Russia making slow but steady progress over the past year at a high cost.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 43 missiles and 74 drones overnight. Of these, 30 missiles and 47 drones were intercepted, and 27 drones failed to reach their intended targets.
The Russian missile strikes spanned from the Lviv region in western Ukraine, near the Polish border, to Kharkiv in the northeast, which borders Russia. The state-owned energy company, Ukrenergo, confirmed emergency power outages in six regions, with production often being halted during attacks as a precautionary measure.
Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko condemned the attacks, stating on Facebook that “the enemy continues to terrorize Ukrainians.”
Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s power grid in an attempt to deprive the population of heat, electricity, and running water, aiming to undermine the nation’s morale. These strikes have also sought to disrupt Ukraine’s defence manufacturing capabilities.
Ukrainian authorities are working to restore their energy infrastructure, although the frequent bombardments have caused significant damage to power production. Western allies have been assisting Ukraine in rebuilding its energy capacity.
In a statement on Telegram, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted that Russia’s objective remains unchanged- to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, particularly during the harsh winter. He urged Western partners to expedite the delivery of promised air defence systems, stressing that while commitments had been made, they had yet to be fully realised.
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