KYIV, UKRAINE — Russia launched a large-scale aerial attack on Ukraine on Friday, targeting the nation’s energy infrastructure with waves of cruise missiles and drones. The assault, part of a continued strategy to cripple Ukraine’s power grid, comes as winter looms.
Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko described the strikes as “terror,” noting that energy workers are striving to minimize damage and maintain stability in the grid. More details on the extent of the destruction will follow once security conditions permit, he added.
Ukraine’s air force reported overnight strikes involving drones followed by swarms of cruise missiles. Air-launched Kinzhal ballistic missiles were also deployed against western Ukraine, underscoring the escalating intensity of the conflict.
Since its invasion in February 2022, Russia has systematically targeted Ukraine’s electricity system, triggering frequent power outages and disruptions to heating and water supplies during harsh winters. While Moscow claims these strikes aim to disable Ukraine’s defense industry, the damage to civilian infrastructure appears designed to erode morale.
Friday’s attack follows a similar massive raid on November 28, when roughly 200 missiles and drones left over a million households without power. Emergency crews worked tirelessly to restore services. Ukrainian officials warn that Russia is amassing cruise and ballistic missiles for further assaults.
On November 21, Russia employed its hypersonic Oreshnik missile for the first time, striking an industrial plant in Dnipro. President Vladimir Putin framed it as retaliation for Ukrainian strikes using Western-supplied longer-range weapons. The Kremlin has threatened additional attacks with the weapon.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air defenses, bolstered by Western support, struggle to counter the sheer volume of missiles and drones. Moscow’s combined aerial strategy has severely impacted nearly half of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, resulting in widespread blackouts.
As Russian forces maintain the offensive in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv braces for continued strikes aimed at deepening the country’s energy crisis during the winter months.
