- Russia is targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure with aerial attacks.
In one of the heaviest assaults in nearly 2.5 years of conflict, Russia has pummeled Ukraine with rockets, cruise missiles, and drones from the air. As per Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Telegram, 15 out of the 24 Ukrainian regions were impacted, resulting in casualties. "Lives have been lost and injured." The primary objective of these attacks was once again Ukraine's energy system. This resulted in power outages and emergency shutdowns in Kyiv and other parts of the nation.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Russia's use of over 100 rockets and a similar number of combat drones. He reiterated Ukraine's urgent plea to partner nations to authorize the deployment of Western weapons against Russian military targets within their borders. "Each leader, every ally of ours understands the critical decisions necessitated to bring an end to this conflict justly." For Ukraine, there should be no border constraints, as Russia disregards its attack boundaries.
The extended duration of the attacks hindered the collection of casualty and damage reports. Preliminary official figures indicated 5 fatalities and 17 injuries in various regions of the country. The bombardment occurred as people resumed work post-weekend and Independence Day celebrations.
In Kyiv, the air alert was lifted only after nearly 8 hours, at 13:45 local time (12:45 CET), as swarms of Russian combat drones continued to hover in the sky. Footage showed inhabitants of the million-strong city seeking refuge in subway stations.
As per the Ukrainian air force, the Russian army utilized 11 long-range Tu-95 bombers as cruise missile launch platforms at one point. Hypersonic Kinzhal missiles were also directed at Ukraine. The country was also under attack from Kalibr cruise missiles launched from the Black Sea. Approximately 50 drones were reportedly detected in the airspace. As usual, Ukraine failed to disclose information about strikes on military targets.
Due to the proximity of the Russian attacks to the Polish border, the Polish military dispatched interceptors, as reported by news agency PAP. Reports also suggested involvement of aircraft from other allied countries in the operation.
Emergency power grid shutdowns
"The enemy persists in its mission to plunge Ukrainians into darkness," Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko wrote on Facebook. The situation is dire. The power supplier Ukrenergo and other energy companies are attempting to alleviate the network through emergency shutdowns. In the absence of power, water supply is typically affected.
Since the beginning of 2023/24, Russia has made multiple attempts using combined air strikes to disable Ukraine's power plants and energy infrastructure. In an attack on December 29, the Russian army employed 122 rockets and cruise missiles and 36 drones, according to Kyiv's estimate. Over 30 casualties were reported in Ukraine.
Ukraine has been resisting a large-scale Russian infiltration since February 2022. On Saturday, the second-largest country in Europe celebrated its 33rd anniversary of independence from the Soviet Union.
The Russian army deployed numerous aircraft, including Tu-95 bombers and Kalibr cruise missiles launched from the Black Sea, in their attacks on Ukraine's energy system. Due to the extensive use of drones and missiles, several allied countries sent aircraft to assist in intercepting the attacks near the Polish border.
