Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone assault on Ukraine during the Monday morning rush hour, killing at least five people and hitting energy facilities across the country, Ukrainian officials reported. The attack, which involved over 100 missiles and around 100 drones, caused widespread power outages and water supply disruptions, particularly in Kyiv and other regions.
Extensive Damage To Critical Infrastructure
The attack, which took place 2.5 years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, targeted critical infrastructure in at least 10 Ukrainian regions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described it as “one of the biggest combined strikes” to date, noting that the assault focused on civilian infrastructure. The missile and drone strikes were particularly intense, with Russia reportedly aiming to further degrade Ukraine’s power grid ahead of the winter months when demand for electricity and heating is highest.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed that 15 regions had sustained damage, with significant impacts on the energy sector. Ukrainian officials have expressed concern that the ongoing targeting of energy infrastructure is part of a concerted effort by Russia to weaken Ukraine’s resilience during the colder months.
Escalating Tensions And Cross-Border Incursions
The attack comes at a time when Ukraine is making gains in a major cross-border incursion into Russia’s southern Kursk region, while Russian forces are advancing in eastern Ukraine, closing in on the transport hub of Pokrovsk. The ongoing conflict has seen an escalation in both the intensity and scale of military operations on both sides.
Zelensky revealed that Ukraine has developed a new “drone missile” that has been used to strike targets deep inside Russia, further escalating the conflict. These new weapons are reportedly more powerful and faster than previous models in Kyiv’s arsenal. Ukrainian officials are also advocating for the capability to carry out long-range strikes into Russia, a significant shift in the dynamics of the conflict.
International Repercussions
The missile and drone attacks have had ripple effects beyond Ukraine’s borders. Poland’s military placed its warplanes and those of its allies on alert following the assault, as some of the strikes hit regions near the NATO member state. Moldova, whose power grid is linked with Ukraine’s, reported minor disruptions to its network due to the attacks.
Several regions across Ukraine reported damage to infrastructure, including Rivne, Volyn, Khmelnytskyi, Zhytomyr, Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa. In the northeastern Sumy region, which has been a focal point of Ukrainian incursions into Russia, a railway infrastructure facility was hit, though details were not disclosed.
The Ukrainian air force reported that 15 missiles and 15 drones targeting Kyiv were successfully intercepted. Despite these defensive efforts, the sheer scale of the attack inflicted significant damage, with air raid sirens and explosions heard across multiple cities, including central Kyiv.
Rising Casualties And Ongoing Threats
The attack resulted in the deaths of at least five people, with casualties reported in the regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, and Volyn. In Lutsk, an apartment block was damaged by the explosions, and blasts were also reported on the outskirts of Kyiv, where air defences engaged incoming missiles and drones.
Both Russia and Ukraine continue to deny targeting civilians, each claiming their attacks are aimed at crippling the other’s military infrastructure. However, the ongoing strikes on civilian areas and infrastructure have raised concerns about the humanitarian impact of the conflict as it drags on.
(With Inputs from Reuters)
