Russia has launched its largest attack this year on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, using 93 missiles and over 200 drones in a coordinated strike.
Ukrainian authorities reported that 81 missiles were intercepted, but several energy facilities in western regions sustained significant damage, exacerbating the country’s energy crisis amid freezing winter temperatures.
The Ivano-Frankivsk region faced its worst attack to date, with substantial damage reported to key energy facilities. Similar strikes targeted infrastructure in the Lviv and Ternopil regions, while authorities in Kyiv stated no residential or critical infrastructure was hit. Nationwide, five out of Ukraine’s nine nuclear reactor units were forced to operate at reduced power.
The national grid operator, Ukrenergo, introduced rolling blackouts and announced reliance on electricity imports from neighboring countries, including Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, and Moldova, to stabilize the grid.
Moscow claimed the attack was a response to Ukraine’s recent use of US-made ATACMS missiles in a strike on a Russian military airbase in southwest Russia. This marked the first time Ukraine used the long-range missiles against targets within Russian territory, a move authorised by US President Joe Biden in late 2023.
US President-elect Donald Trump criticised the use of American-made missiles to target Russian sites, calling the action “crazy” in a *Time* magazine interview marking his selection as Person of the Year. Trump, who has advocated for a negotiated resolution to the war, stated, *“We’re just escalating this war and making it worse.”*
The Kremlin welcomed Trump’s remarks, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying, *“It is obvious that Trump understands exactly what is escalating the situation.”* Peskov added that Trump’s stance was “fully aligned” with Moscow’s position.
The attack coincided with the coldest day of the Ukrainian winter so far, with temperatures dropping to -6°C. As a result of the strikes, millions of Ukrainians are now facing power shortages and prolonged outages, adding to the hardships caused by Russia’s ongoing campaign against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Despite the destruction, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted the resilience of the country’s defenses, noting the successful interception of most missiles. However, the latest strikes underline the continuing escalation in the war, with international repercussions growing amid calls for a diplomatic resolution.
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