By Russia launched its most extensive attack on Ukraine’s power infrastructure since the start of the war, firing more than 200 missiles and drones on Monday, Ukrainian officials reported. The assault killed at least seven people and caused widespread power outages across the country.
Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk described the attack as “the most massive” of the 2-1/2-year-long war, stating that air defenses intercepted 102 out of 127 incoming missiles and 99 out of 109 drones. The barrage targeted power facilities and other critical infrastructure nationwide, including parts of the capital, Kyiv.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said 15 regions sustained damage, while President Volodymyr Zelenskiy noted “a lot of damage in the energy sector.” The attack left many areas without power and water supply, as Russia appeared to intensify its efforts to degrade Ukraine’s power system ahead of next winter.
U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the strikes as “outrageous” and pledged continued support for Ukraine’s energy infrastructure repairs.
In a concerning development, neighboring Poland, a NATO member, reported that a drone had likely entered its airspace. Polish military spokesperson Jacek Goryszewski told Reuters, “Most likely it was a drone and we assume so, because the trajectory of the flight and the speed indicate that it was definitely not a missile.”
The Ukrainian air force also reported that two Russian drones crossed the border into Belarus.
Among the seven confirmed fatalities were a 69-year-old man in the Dnipropetrovsk region and a farmer in Zaporizhzhia. Others were reported in Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, and Volyn regions. At least 47 people were injured, including four children, according to emergency services.
The attack targeted various types of infrastructure across Ukraine. In the Kyiv region, a hydropower plant was reportedly struck. Video footage verified by Reuters showed damage to a dam and a fire at a power plant, as well as a missile hitting a water reservoir.
Russia’s defense ministry claimed its forces used high-precision weapons to strike important energy infrastructure supporting Ukraine’s military-industrial complex, including power substations, gas compressor stations, and aircraft weapons storage sites.
The massive assault comes as Ukraine claims new ground in a cross-border incursion into Russia’s western Kursk region, while Russian forces have made steady advances in eastern Ukraine, nearing the transport hub of Pokrovsk.
In response to the attack, President Zelenskiy reiterated his call for allies to join Ukraine in shooting down missiles and drones over Ukrainian airspace. He also mentioned that Ukraine had developed a new “drone missile” capable of striking targets deep inside Russia.
As Ukraine grapples with the aftermath of this devastating attack, the international community watches closely, with the incident highlighting the ongoing challenges in protecting civilian infrastructure during wartime and the potential for further escalation in the conflict.
