The Russian Army on Thursday launched massive attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector, forcing emergency power failure as temperatures dropped across the country.
Ukraine’s energy grid has been heavily targeted since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of “terror” tactics by attempting to plunge Ukrainian cities into darkness and cut off heating to civilians throughout the winter.
The overnight strikes come after two weeks of dramatic escalation, during which both sides launched new weapons to gain the upper hand ahead of the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump in January 2025.
The Air Force reported a slew of Russian cruise missiles and attack drones heading for Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv, Kharkiv in the northeast, and the Black Sea port city of Odesa.
“Once again, the energy sector is under massive enemy attack. Attacks on energy facilities are taking place across Ukraine,” Galushchenko said.
He said that Ukrenergo, the national power grid operator, had “urgently implemented emergency power cuts” as temperatures plunged to around 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit).
DTEK, an energy provider, stated Ukrenergo was initiating emergency power cuts in Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Donetsk. According to air force signals, the national attack was still occurring as of 8 a.m. (0600 GMT).
“As soon as the security situation will allow it, the consequences (of the strikes) will be specified,” Galushchenko said.
The Chief of Staff of President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the series of attacks demonstrated Russia’s “continuation of terror tactics.”
“They stockpiled missiles for attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and warfare against civilians during winter,” Andriy Yermak stated in a Telegram post, promising Ukraine’s response.
Rosemary DiCarlo, a top United Nations official, warned this month that Russian strikes on Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure might make this winter the “harshest since the start of the war.”
Russia earlier this week stated that it was planning to retaliate for Ukrainian strikes on its territory with US-supplied ATACMS missiles.
Ukraine has launched at least three missile attacks on Russian border regions since the White House gave it permission to fire them on Russian territory.
