Ukraine was plunged into darkness on Thursday as a massive Russian aerial assault targeted critical energy infrastructure across the country, leaving over a million households without power. This latest attack marks the eleventh large-scale assault on Ukraine’s energy grid this year, intensifying concerns about the country’s ability to withstand the harsh winter months.
The attacks, which involved a barrage of missiles and drones, caused widespread damage to energy facilities, triggering emergency power cuts in many regions. The western regions of Lviv, Volyn, and Rivne were particularly hard hit, experiencing significant outages.
Russian President Vladimir Putin justified the attacks as retaliation for Ukraine’s use of US-supplied ATACMS missiles to strike targets within Russia. “As I have said many times, there will always be a response from our side,” Putin stated during a security summit.
Ukrainian officials reported injuries and damage in several regions, including the capital Kyiv, where residents sought shelter in metro stations during a prolonged air raid alert. Eyewitnesses described explosions and power outages, highlighting the impact of the attacks on daily life.
“I have a power bank for charging my phone, but I did not buy a more powerful station because I did not take it seriously that there would be such attacks and that missiles would reach us,” said Valeriy Dorotiy, a resident of Lutsk. “But it did reach us.”
The attacks have sparked renewed calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for increased air defense support from allies. He emphasized the urgent need for air defense systems to protect civilians and critical infrastructure.
Putin claimed that the Russian strikes targeted military facilities and defense industry infrastructure. He also threatened further retaliation, including the potential use of a new medium-range ballistic missile.
This latest wave of attacks underscores the ongoing challenges facing Ukraine as the war enters its third winter. The deliberate targeting of energy infrastructure raises concerns about a humanitarian crisis as temperatures plummet and essential services are disrupted. The international community continues to condemn Russia’s actions and express support for Ukraine’s resilience in the face of ongoing aggression.
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