Russian Missile Barrage Forces Ukraine to Shut Down Power Grid

Russia launched a large missile and drone attack on Wednesday targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, forcing authorities to implement emergency power shutdowns in several regions despite freezing winter temperatures.

The assault, which spanned key Ukrainian regions, aimed to cripple vital energy production facilities and further weaken the country’s already strained power grid, officials said.

Why It Matters

The Russian defense ministry claimed the strike targeted “critically important facilities of gas and energy infrastructure that ensure the functioning of Ukraine’s military industrial complex,” although it didn’t specify the exact locations or details of the targets.

The attack came a day after Russia vowed retaliation for an alleged missile strike on Russian soil, which it blamed on Western-supplied missiles.

Why Is Russia Targeting Energy Infrastructure?

Kyiv has not confirmed the Russian claims, but Ukrainian officials acknowledged a large-scale missile and drone attack on Tuesday that hit an oil refinery, a fuel storage depot, a chemical plant producing ammunition, and two anti-aircraft missile systems in Russian territory—around 700 miles from the Ukrainian border.

The attack demonstrated Ukraine’s ability to strike deep within Russian territory, a key feature of the ongoing war.

The nearly three-year-long conflict, which has become a war of attrition, continues to feature long-range strikes as both sides engage in slow, costly advances.

Over the past year, Russia has made incremental progress on the battlefield, though its gains have come at a high price.

What to Know

The Russian offensive on Wednesday involved 43 missiles and 74 drones, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.

Ukrainian air defenses successfully shot down 30 missiles and 47 drones, while 27 drones failed to reach their intended targets.

The missiles targeted a wide swath of Ukraine, from the western Lviv region near Poland to the northeastern Kharkiv region on the Russian border.

In response, Ukraine’s state-run energy company, Ukrenergo, reported emergency power outages in six regions. It often orders precautionary shutdowns of energy production facilities during such attacks.

For months, Russia has focused its efforts on undermining Ukraine’s power grid, targeting critical energy infrastructure to deprive the population of heat, electricity and water in the depths of the harsh winter.

The objective, according to Ukrainian officials, is not only to break the morale of the Ukrainian people, but also to disrupt the country’s defense manufacturing capabilities, which rely heavily on steady access to energy.

Despite the ongoing destruction, Ukraine has made efforts to rebuild its power generation capacity, with significant support from Western partners.

President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western nations to fulfill their promises of air defense systems more quickly, pointing out that while assistance had been promised, much of it had not yet materialized.

What People Are Saying

Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko condemned the assault, calling it part of Russia’s ongoing campaign of terror. He wrote on Facebook: “The enemy continues to terrorize Ukrainians.”

President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram: “It is the middle of winter, and Russia’s goal remains unchanged: our energy infrastructure.”

What Happens Next

As Ukraine’s power grid remains under huge pressure, the stakes for both sides grow ever higher, with the outcome of this winter’s battles likely to have significant ramifications for the remainder of the conflict.

This article contains reporting from the Associated Press.