Friday’s attack is the latest in a series that has heightened fears that the Kremlin aims to cripple the country’s power generation capacity before the cold winter sets in.
Russia launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine on Friday, lobbing dozens of rockets and drones, including the Kinzhal ballistic missile.
Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said Russia targeted the country’s energy grid. “The enemy continues its terror,” he said.
Halushchenko said energy workers were working to “minimise negative consequences for the energy system,” promising to release more details on damages once the security situation allows it.
Ukraine’s air force reported swarms of strike drones were launched at Ukraine overnight, followed by multiple cruise missiles in the country’s air space. It said Russia also used air-launched ballistic Kinzhal missiles against Ukraine’s western regions.
Friday’s attack is the latest in a series of such raids that have sparked fears that the Kremlin is targeting Ukraine’s power grid as a cold winter is about to set in.
Russia has relentlessly pummeled Ukraine’s electricity system since launching its invasion in 2022.
Its attacks have resulted in the repeated shutdown of critical heating and drinking water supplies during the bitter winter months in an apparent attempt to break Ukrainian spirits and resolve.
Moscow argues that the attacks aim to target Ukraine’s defence industry, producing missiles, drones, armoured vehicles and artillery, among other weapons.
The previous massive attack on 28 November involved about 200 missiles and drones and left more than a million households without power until emergency teams restored supplies.