Russia targets Ukraine's energy infrastructure in massive strikes ahead of winter, Zelensky says

Russia launched a massive missile and drone strike against Ukraine's energy facilities on Oct. 3,  President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address, accusing Moscow of trying to deepen the hardship of civilians ahead of the cold season.

"Just today, Russia struck our gas infrastructure with 35 missiles, including ballistic weapons. It was a combined strike, and only half of the missiles were shot down," Zelensky said after a meeting with Ukraine's top military command.

Zelensky said additional attacks also hit the Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts, while ballistic missiles struck energy facilities in Donetsk Oblast, including in Kramatorsk, Sloviansk and Druzhkivka.

Earlier on Oct. 3, a massive Russian air assault struck some of Ukraine's main gas production facilities, causing critical damage. Russia attacked facilities of Ukraine's state gas and oil company Naftogaz in the Kharkiv and Poltava oblasts, Naftogaz CEO Sergii Koretskyi said.

Koretskyi called it the largest attack on the company's sites since Russia's full-scale war began in 2022. Top private energy provider DTEK said it had suspended operations at several gas facilities in Poltava Oblast.

Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's power grid, gas facilities and heating systems ahead of winter in an attempt to make living conditions unbearable for civilians. Last year, sustained strikes plunged millions into darkness and left entire cities without heat during freezing months.

Zelensky praised emergency workers and local authorities for quickly repairing damage and restoring power.

The president also urged Ukraine's military command to strengthen air defenses, especially in the country's northeast, to better protect against drones and missiles aimed at vital infrastructure.

Bloomberg reported on Sept. 20, citing sources close to the Kremlin, that Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to continue targeting Ukraine's energy network this winter as part of a broader escalation meant to pressure Kyiv into peace talks.

Ukraine's Energy Ministry said on Sept. 11 it was stockpiling fuel and equipment while coordinating with the army to defend energy sites from aerial attacks. Officials hope to reach 17.6 gigawatts of power generation capacity to meet winter demand, though that is still far below the 36 gigawatts available before Russia's full-scale invasion.

Ukraine braces for renewed blackouts amid new wave of Russian attacks on energy

After a brief respite, Ukraine is expecting a new wave of Russian mass attacks on its energy infrastructure that could throw the country back into blackouts this winter. Russian attacks last year wiped out nine gigawatts (GW) of Ukraine’s power generation — half of its capacity — by knocking out eight thermal plants and five hydropower plants, prompting rolling blackouts across the country. Following a partial March ceasefire, Russia concentrated its attacks on local energy facilities in front-

The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell