The Russian military launched a major aerial offensive on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure early Thursday, triggering emergency power outages as winter temperatures plummeted across the country.
Since the onset of Russia’s invasion in February 2022, Ukraine’s energy grid has been a frequent target, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of using “terror tactics” to plunge cities into darkness and deny civilians heating during the harsh winter months.
Ukraine’s Energy Minister, German Galushchenko, described the strikes as a “massive enemy attack” after a nationwide air alert was issued for incoming missiles. The Air Force reported waves of Russian cruise missiles and drones heading toward cities including Kyiv, Kharkiv, and the port city of Odesa.
“Once again, the energy sector is under massive enemy attack,” Galushchenko said, adding that national power grid operator Ukrenergo had imposed emergency power outages as temperatures dropped to freezing. Regions affected included Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Donetsk.
As of 8 a.m. local time (0600 GMT), the attacks were still underway, with authorities assessing the damage as soon as conditions allowed.
Winter Warfare Intensifies
The strikes come amid heightened military activity from both sides, as each seeks strategic gains ahead of the January 2025 inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, condemned the attacks, accusing Russia of stockpiling missiles to inflict suffering on civilians during winter. “They continue their tactics of terror,” Yermak wrote on Telegram, pledging a strong Ukrainian response.
Earlier this month, United Nations official Rosemary DiCarlo warned that Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure could make this winter the “harshest since the start of the war.”
The ongoing conflict has left millions of Ukrainians grappling with disrupted power, heating, and water supplies, raising concerns of a worsening humanitarian crisis as the cold intensifies.
