Russia Launches Large-Scale Aerial Assault on Ukraine’s Energy Sector

On Thursday, Russian forces initiated a major aerial strike targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, triggering emergency power outages as the temperature across the country plummeted.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian energy grid has been a frequent target, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of using “terror tactics” aimed at plunging cities into darkness and depriving civilians of heating during the winter months.

The overnight attacks follow a period of intense escalation, with both Russia and Ukraine introducing new weaponry to gain the upper hand ahead of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in January 2025.

Ukraine’s Energy Minister, German Galushchenko, reported that the country’s power infrastructure was facing a “massive enemy attack.” A nationwide air alert was issued in response to incoming Russian missiles. The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed the launch of cruise missiles and drones targeting cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa.

“We are under a massive enemy attack once again, with strikes on energy facilities across Ukraine,” Galushchenko said.

The national power grid operator, Ukrenergo, had to impose emergency power cuts in multiple regions, including Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Donetsk, as temperatures dropped to around freezing. Energy provider DTEK confirmed these emergency outages and said the nationwide assault was ongoing as of 8 a.m. local time.

Galushchenko added that details on the full impact of the strikes would be provided once the security situation allowed for further assessment.

Russia’s Strategy of “Terror”

Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to President Volodymyr Zelensky, condemned the attacks as part of Russia’s ongoing “terror tactics.” He accused Russia of stockpiling missiles to target Ukrainian infrastructure and to wage a war against civilians during the harsh winter.

A senior UN official, Rosemary DiCarlo, warned that the Russian assaults on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure could make this winter the “harshest since the beginning of the war.”

In response to Ukraine’s attacks on its border regions using U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles, Russia has vowed to retaliate. This week, Moscow said it was preparing for a response, including using advanced weaponry. In retaliation, Russia launched a hypersonic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a warning, stating that the missile, capable of carrying nuclear payloads, could be directed at Western nations if they continue allowing Ukraine to use U.S. weaponry against Russia.

Russia’s defense ministry also reported shooting down 25 Ukrainian drones in the early hours of Thursday, including 14 over the Krasnodar region, just east of the annexed Crimean peninsula. The governor of Krasnodar reported that falling debris injured a woman in the town of Slavyansk-on-Kuban.

New U.S. Envoy Appointment

This wave of attacks came shortly after President-elect Donald Trump appointed retired General Keith Kellogg as his special envoy for Ukraine. Kellogg, a staunch ally of Trump and a veteran of national security, is tasked with managing the U.S.’s role in negotiating an end to the Russian invasion.

Trump has promised to mediate a quick ceasefire deal, raising concerns in Kyiv about potential U.S. pressure to make territorial concessions. Kellogg co-authored a recent paper advocating for Washington to leverage military aid as a means of urging peace talks.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration has suggested that Ukraine lower its conscription age to 18 to address manpower shortages on the front lines. Russian forces, particularly in the east, have gained momentum, with an advantage in both manpower and ammunition over Ukraine’s stretched resources.