Ukraine Points to Russian Plan for Winter Energy Cutoff as Strikes Escalate
Ukraine has shared with European partners what it says are intercepted Russian plans to cut Kyiv and other major cities off from power, heat and water this winter.
The material, described on Oct. 15, includes an estimate that such an operation would require about 70 ballistic missiles, 720 long-range drones and 150 guided bombs, according to The New York Times. Ukraine had first presented what it described as the intercepted plans to European officials in early October, as reported on Oct. 2.
The disclosure comes after a series of heavy air attacks on Ukraine's energy system. An hours-long Russian missile and drone attack in October primarily targeted Kyiv and Kharkiv. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that attack damaged 30 energy facilities, according to Reuters.
Satellite images reported on Oct. 15 show that Russia built a major new drone attack base in six weeks, according to Reuters. A Ukrainian presidential statement says Russia has carried out more than 200 strikes on electricity generation and transmission facilities.
Kyiv described a separate Russian attack on Sept. 30 as the worst combined strike on the country's energy grid in months. Zelenskyy also said Russia launched a targeted strike on a power plant in Kharkiv, causing further damage to the energy system.
The fighting over energy infrastructure has undone a limited pause in such strikes. On Oct. 12, Ukraine accused Russia of violating what it called Trump's energy ceasefire after reported attacks on energy facilities. Russia hit at least six energy targets during airstrikes across Ukraine reported that day, according to Reuters.
On Oct. 12, Zelenskyy had said Ukraine would stop long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries and oil exports only if Russia stops strikes on Ukraine's energy system and critical infrastructure. On Oct. 15, Zelenskyy said in a Financial Times interview that Ukraine will resume strikes on Russian refineries and that the suspension of attacks has ended.
That same day, Ukraine struck a Russian oil refinery after Zelenskyy said Kyiv was "done" supporting an energy ceasefire, according to Reuters. The governor of Russia's Ryazan region said a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil refinery in the Ryazan region, according to Reuters.
