In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russian forces unleashed a massive drone attack across Ukraine overnight, targeting 15 regions and inflicting damage on critical energy infrastructure and residential buildings. Ukrainian authorities reported that a total of 105 drones were launched, with the Ukrainian Air Force successfully shooting down 78 of them. An additional 23 drones were likely neutralized by electronic jamming, highlighting the intensity of the defense efforts.
The assault left a trail of destruction in its wake, particularly impacting power lines and substation equipment in the Kyiv, Odesa, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. Ukraine’s energy ministry, in a Telegram post, revealed the extent of the damage, emphasizing the disruption to the nation’s power grid. The attacks also caused temporary disruptions to railway services in the southern Odesa region, leaving thousands of households without power.
Odesa regional governor Oleh Kiper reported that power had been restored to more than 3,000 consumers in his region following the attack, though a further 2,000 remained in the dark. Authorities in Kyiv, the capital, reported that they had downed around 15 drones over the city and its surroundings during an air alert that stretched for over five hours.
The central Ukrainian regions of Poltava, Cherkasy, and Kirovohrad also reported minor damage to property. Meanwhile, the Russian defense ministry claimed its forces had successfully targeted Ukrainian energy facilities providing power to Ukrainian military operations, according to Russian state news agency TASS. While Moscow consistently denies targeting civilians, its strikes have repeatedly struck towns and cities behind the front lines, demonstrating a disregard for civilian safety.
In a separate incident, a Russian guided bomb struck an apartment block in the eastern city of Kharkiv on Wednesday, igniting fires and injuring at least 10 people. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the ongoing conflict.
More than two and a half years into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has intensified its attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure, employing drones and missiles to inflict widespread damage. These strikes, particularly prevalent with the approach of winter, have prompted Kyiv to repeatedly call on its allies to lift restrictions on the use of Western long-range weapons. Ukraine aims to strike deep into Russia to curb its ability to launch such attacks and cripple its military capabilities.
On Thursday, the Ukrainian military reported the use of ATACMS ballistic missiles, provided by the U.S., to target a Russian radar station. The strike was aimed at reducing Moscow’s ability to “detect, track and intercept” ballistic targets, according to the military. However, the specific timing of the strike and the location of the ‘Nebo-M’ radar station were not disclosed.
As the conflict continues, the ongoing attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure highlight the devastating impact on the civilian population and the critical need for international support to ensure the security and stability of the country.
