Massive missile and drone attack launched by Russia on Ukraine’s energy facilities

As worries about a renewed Russian offensive intensify, Ukrainian forces are struggling to regain their footing in the face of relentless attacks. Russian forces unleashed an overnight barrage of more than 50 cruise missiles and explosive drones at Ukraine’s power grid, causing widespread damage and injuring several people.

The attack targeted seven Ukrainian regions, including the capital Kyiv, as well as parts of the south and west. The bombardment damaged homes, the country’s rail network, and critical energy facilities. The national electrical grid operator Ukrenergo reported that facilities were hit in multiple regions, including Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, and Kirovohrad.

Ukraine’s biggest private energy supplier, DTEK, said the attack “seriously damaged” equipment at three of its thermal power plants. This latest assault marks the fifth attack on the company’s facilities in the last six weeks, with a total of nearly 180 attacks since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has framed the attacks as retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries. The ongoing bombardments have strained Ukrainian air defenses and depleted resources, leaving the country vulnerable to further assaults.

As Ukrainian officials fear a major offensive from Russia in the coming weeks, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy compared Ukraine’s current struggle to the end of European fighting in World War II. The situation remains tense as both sides prepare for potential escalation on the battlefield.