Russia’s Defense Ministry announces plans for significant attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure after a deadly strike claims 38 lives.
Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that it is preparing for “massive strikes” on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, just days after a devastating attack on a warehouse near Kyiv raised alarms about a potential winter assault.
In a post shared via Telegram on Sunday, the ministry characterized the planned strikes as a response to ongoing Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy facilities.
“In accordance with the received instructions, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation began preparing to launch massive strikes against Ukrainian energy facilities as a response to the continuing attacks of the Kiev regime against the Russian civil infrastructure and fuel and energy facilities,” the ministry communicated, as translated by Google.
This warning follows a deadly strike on a warehouse west of Kyiv on Friday night, which resulted in a rise in the death toll to 38, with four individuals still missing, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The incident, marking the deadliest Russian assault in Ukraine this year, targeted an ammunition storage facility in the village of Myla, causing significant fires and explosions.
Emergency services managed to extinguish most of the flames, with Zelenskyy labeling the situation as “terrible” and attributing it to “terrible negligence on the part of those who stored explosives right next to people.” He informed the public that an investigation had commenced to ascertain why the ammunition was stored in such proximity to a populated area.
As missile strikes on Ukrainian cities have increased, Ukrainian officials are grappling with a critical shortage of air defense systems.
In retaliation, Ukraine has been focusing on long-range drone strikes aimed at Russian oil refineries and logistics hubs, a strategy designed to elevate the cost of the war for Moscow and challenge President Vladimir Putin’s resolve after more than four-and-a-half years of conflict.
Ukrainian officials, along with drone industry leaders and national security experts, have warned that the nation might confront another grueling winter, raising concerns of relentless military attacks on its power grid during harsh temperatures.
Since April, Zelenskyy has stressed the necessity to ensure that energy and critical infrastructure facilities are fully functional and securely protected for the impending heating season.
Iryna Terekh, the CEO of Ukrainian drone manufacturer Fire Point, remarked that Kyiv must accurately assess the threats it faces, particularly given the severe lack of air defense assets at present.
“Winter is coming, obviously, and last winter was very hard for Ukraine and its major cities. This one would be no easier — and probably even harder,” Terekh noted in an earlier conversation with CNBC this month.
