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Russia conducted a “massive” attack against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on Thursday, firing nearly 200 missiles and drones and leaving more than a million households without power, Ukrainian officials said.
Russia's second major aerial attack on Ukraine's power grid in less than two weeks amplified fears that the Kremlin aims to cripple the country's power generation capacity before winter.
“Attacks on energy facilities are happening all over Ukraine,” Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said in a post on Facebook. He added that emergency power outages were implemented nationwide.
Russia in previous years has targeted Ukraine’s electricity generation, aiming to deny civilians critical heating and drinking water supplies during the bitter winter months and break Ukrainian spirits. The attacks also seek to hobble Ukraine’s defense industry that is now producing missiles, drones and armored vehicles, among other military assets.
In some regions on Thursday, Kalibr cruise missiles with cluster munitions smashed into civilian targets, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, calling it “an insidious escalation.” Cluster munitions release numerous small bombs over a wide area, making them dangerous to civilians both during and after an attack.
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed his forces struck 17 Ukrainian targets Thursday, including military facilities and their “support systems,” with 100 drones and 90 missiles.
It was the 11th massive combined attack by Russia on Ukraine's energy infrastructure this year.
But the Ukrainian air force claimed to have shot down 76 cruise missiles and three other types of missile as well as 32 drones. It added that it lost track of 62 Russian drones, which most likely were jammed by electronic warfare.
Neither side's claims could be independently verified.
Ukrainian officials have warned recently that Russia was stockpiling cruise and ballistic missiles, presumably for another pre-winter aerial campaign against Ukraine’s power grid. Ukrainian officials have in the past accused Russia of “weaponizing winter.” Such massive attacks have been a regular feature of the war.
Around half of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been destroyed during the almost three years of war with Russia, and rolling electricity blackouts are common. Kyiv's Western allies have sought to help Ukraine protect power generation with air defense systems and funds for rebuilding.
Last March, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued arrest warrants for two high-ranking Russian military officers on war crimes charges linked to attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, including power plants and electricity sub-stations.
The war has been going in Russia's favor in recent months as its bigger army uses its advantages in manpower and equipment to push Ukrainian forces backward in eastern areas, though its offensive has been slow and costly.
Putin said that over the past two days Russia had fired 100 missiles and 466 drones at Ukraine, saying they were a response to Ukraine using American-made missiles to hit targets on Russian soil after gaining permission to do so from President Joe Biden.
Speaking at a summit in Kazakhstan of a security alliance of former Soviet nations, Putin threatened to use a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, called Oreshnik, against “decision-making centers” in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital.
The missile launched for the first time at Ukraine last week has six warheads and flies at 10 times the speed of sound, according to Putin, who declared that it can't be intercepted by any modern air defense systems.
Oreshnik can penetrate underground bunkers and releases dozens of submunitions that “turn everything to dust,” Putin said. The use of several Oreshnik missiles in one strike would be comparable in its devastating power to a nuclear weapon, he claimed.
Explosions in Thursday's Russian attack were reported in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi, Lutsk, and many other cities in central and western Ukraine.
Zelenskyy urged Western countries to accelerate delivery of promised air defense weaponry. Ukrainian officials in the past have grumbled that military aid is slow to arrive.
“Each such attack proves that air defense systems are needed now in Ukraine, where they save lives, and not at storage bases,” Zelenskyy said on the Telegram messaging app.
Russia uses large numbers of missiles and drones to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses and exploits weather conditions such as dense fog and cloud cover to make interceptions harder, the Ukrainian air force said.
The head of Ukraine’s presidential office, Andrii Yermak, said in a Telegram post that Russia had stockpiled missiles to strike Ukrainian infrastructure and wage war against civilians during the cold season. “They were helped by their crazy allies, including from North Korea,” he wrote.
Western governments and South Korea say North Korea in recent months has intensified its military support for Russia.
The head of the Lviv region in western Ukraine, Maksym Kozytskyi, said the attack left more than half a million households without electricity.
Over 280,000 households in the northwestern Rivne region were without electricity because of the attack, according to regional Gov. Oleksandr Koval. Running water supplies were also patchy in affected areas. Some schools in Rivne city switched to online classes.
There were also strikes on the bordering Volyn region, where 215,000 households had no electricity, regional head Ivan Rudnytskyi said. All critical infrastructure that lost power was switched to generators.
Energy infrastructure was also targeted in the western Ivano-Frankivsk region, local officials said. Air defenses were activated there, and emergency power outages were introduced.
Local officials ordered the opening of “points of invincibility” — shelter-type places where people can charge their phones and other electrical devices and get refreshments during blackouts.
In Kyiv, where the air raid alert lasted over nine hours, missile debris fell in one neighborhood, local officials said. No casualties were reported.
© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
36 Comments
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asdfgtr
More terrorism from a globally isolated Russia.
Putin is getting desperate.
JJE
This is a planned aerial campaign going off with pinpoint accuracy, against target packages which support the UAF.
Not one mention of civilian casualties. Incredible stuff (contrast that with a certain US-ally that bombs indiscriminately).
Primusinter
What were you waiting for? Putin has repeatedly warned about the consequences of a NATO missile strike on Russia. But in order to understand what is happening more deeply, it was necessary to study Putin's speech in Astana yesterday. I think this speech has already been translated into all possible languages. Go study and draw conclusions.
Underworld
How to waste $500 million dollars in a single night.
Underworld
Primusinter
There is no NATO missile strike on Russia.
And Putin said that he would use nukes if Ukraine used US arms in Russia.
He didn't.
So we know he is bluffing.
Yep. A lot of hot air.
Primusinter
You're wrong. Yesterday in Astana, Putin was in great physical condition, fit and confident in his rightness. So, listen carefully to what he says. His decisions depend on the behavior of the West
Primusinter
Don't twist Putin's words. Russia has such weapons that no nuke will be needed.Stop bombing Russia with American weapons. C'est tout
Underworld
Primusinter
And Putin said that he would use nukes if Ukraine used US arms in Russia.
Why not. Ukraine is defending itself from a brutal imperialist aggressor.
Ukraine can use any weapons it wants to defend itself.
falseflagsteve
Ukraine and the West were warned of the repercussions of using long range weapons from the West. I said myself what would happen, it’s so ruddy obvious you see.
dobre vam zajebava
question
who is responsible for that?
UA artillery with latest NATO wunderwaffen?
why they did not stop it?
dobre vam zajebava
is this how Ukraine prevails dear UA fans?
I believe prevailing looks a BIT different right?
Toblerone
The warmongers pushed and pushed for escalation. Putin showed remarkable restraint and patience. Now the warmongers moan and complain.
JJE
Good photos in the article. Top we can see the payload sticking off one of the hardpoints, which appears to be the classic bread and butter FAB-500 M62 high elongation model, streamlined for external carrying. UMPK glide module is the shiny rectangular part at bottom attached to the whole package - fitted by qualified ground crew at the airfield before loading. Fullback can carry 4 of these and when they drop the whole thing flips over with aerodynamics as it initially falls and fold out wings deploy.
These will go down as one of the weapon systems that have really had an outsized impact on the conflict. Because of the symmetric nature of it with static positions, a stick of four prosecuting a fortified position, such as a trench system in a treeline or buildings etc, really opens things up. And the actual bombs come in all shapes, sizes and warheads, not to mention are cheap and plentiful.
dobre vam zajebava
There is no NATO missile strike on Russia.
Ok so US made ones and UK made ones used some days against Russia just before Oreshnik test were "no NATO" ones...
dobre vam zajebava
this is full responsibility of useless UA artillery and its leadership right to the top.Volodymyr.
its OVER
dobre vam zajebava
question to UA fans here
very simple one and very ON TOPIC ONE
Do you honestly believe that Kiev have chance to win over Russia?
Y or N
Moderator
This is not a sporting contest. There are no fans. Please refrain from posting comments like this.
Burgerland
firing nearly 200 missiles and drones.....In some regions on Thursday, Kalibr cruise missiles with cluster munitions smashed into civilian targets, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, calling it “an insidious escalation.”
Nearly 200 missiles and drones , supposedly hitting civilian areas with cluster munitions and yet almost no casualties. Shows that Russians are at least targeting quite carefully and trying to minimize civilian casualties. Huge contrast with another current conflict involving a Washington ally in ME.
JJE
Article mentions use of cluster munitions (fifth paragraph) with Zelensky himself having a whinge about it.
Important to observe Kyiv-regime forces have been employing said munitions for a long time.
Some video evidence circulating certainly indicates CM-equipped cruise missiles against electricity substations. This makes sense from a targeting perspective, considering what a substation looks like.
Underworld
Burgerland
Russia has no qualms about targeting civilians.
But in this case they want to damage energy infrastructure, so that Ukrainians freeze.
Burgerland
But twisting, out of context quoting and misinforming is Washington / Brussels propaganda crowd specialty.
isabelle
All in flagrant contravention of the Geneva Convention, which prohibits attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Yet more war crimes to add to Putin's collection. He is trying to outdo his hero, Stalin, in the savagery stakes.
Ukraine is defending itself from a unilateral, unprovoked, illegal war of conquest by a murderous dictatorship that denies its sovereign right to exist. It may use weapons from the West, or anywhere else to repel the invaders.
The pro-Kremlin mob will try to gaslight every day on here, as they always do, but the blame for all this lies with Putin, and Putin alone.
isabelle
The "provocations" asserted by Russia -- and amplified daily by the pro-Kremlin posters on JT -- are utterly false. They are a contemptible fig-leaf to try to mask Putin's war of conquest and vanity.
I say again, this war -- not "special military operation" -- is the fault of Putin, and Putin alone.
JJE
This seems to be the key sentence.
Military manufacturing requires large amounts of power, so it would be a logical extension to conclude that the power grid which underpins it is a legitimate target.
Let's be honest with ourselves: in every significant US military intervention since WWII, they have gone after the power grids (and more) in the countries being targeted, for the exact same reasons, so this is nothing "new" or even out of the ordinary.
Burgerland
That is valid in a sense. Ukraine unfortunately became a pawn in the long term Washington / Brussels geopolitical game to strategically weaken / defeat Russia. The country has paid too high a price for it. Ukraine now deserves peace, not prolonging this conflict by a Biden admin on its way out pushing Zelensky to draft 18 year olds to do more fighting/dying for neocon hawks goals.
falseflagsteve
Isabelle
Im not pro Putin. Because I comment on the facts rather than wishful thinking some decide I am pro this war. In fact I’m a pacifist and want this and all wars to end.
dobre vam zajebava
some of you are crying about damages caused by russian rockets to ukrainian energy structure.
two questions:
is Crimean bridge civilian infrastructure?it was attacked by UA military some months ago.
is Kakhovka dam civilian infrastructure?it was broken by UA military some months ago.
is Crimea water supplying pipeline civilian structure?it was broken by UA military some years ago.
will you considers 3 examples above as "military targets" so we did not need to cry?or what?
be consistent.
I wish to UA citizens get rid of this Kiev gov asap so new one can seriously talk about PEACE and can save many lives.
JJE
Name a country that "asked to be invaded". That clever phrasing ignores the fact there are underlying and wide-ranging causes to all conflicts, and this one is no different (which includes a whole range of infringements and provocations since 2014 (actually before), too long to list here).
Important to note the winter campaign season is fast approaching. Article mentions RFAF have built up a stockpile of cruise and ballistic missiles - mentioned that a few months ago. Another bonus factor is they fly better in the colder air. With production lines going 24/7, they've likely got a significant stock, so more raids like this will be the norm. ISR will occur to deduce which targets needs more degrading regarding the energy grid, with follow-up and expanded target packages occurring fairly regularly.
Reported also that all three of Kyiv's nuclear power plants were off-the-grid, whatever that means.
One interesting nugget in this article is the threat to go after decision-making centers. We all know what that means.
Burgerland
"Because I comment on the facts rather than wishful thinking some decide I am pro this war. In fact I’m a pacifist and want this and all wars to end."
Anyone who calls for peace and points out Ukraine can not win against Russia is automatically branded a " Putin lover / fan " by the pro Washington/Brussels posters here.
Underworld
JJE
There have absolutely no provocations by Ukraine that warrant being invaded by a imperialist regime.
Underworld
Burgerland
You don’t condemn Putin for his imperialist invasion of Ukraine.
Burgerland
You don’t condemn Putin for his imperialist invasion of Ukraine.
I wish the invasion didn't happen but can also research enough to understand the background reasons leading up to it over many years preceding . Anybody who does that is not buying the simplistic D.C / Brussels propaganda line about " Putin's unprovoked, imperialistic invasion that aims to wipe sovereign Ukraine off the map". You don't condemn Biden admin for pushing Zelensky to draft 18 year old boys to die for US geopolitical goals half the world away.
JJE
Refusing to address the underpinning causes of the conflict, or admit they exist at all, doesn't change the fact they do.
Putin previously announced the Oreshnik IRBM is going into serial production, so it will be interesting to see what numbers they can come up with there.
In the 10th last paragraph of article, Zelensky is whinging out about the slow delivery of AD systems. An interesting current appendage to that thought bubble: over the last few days a Kyiv delegation (including the DM) has been in South Korea, meeting with the government/officials there. They wanted arms - AD systems, artillery and 155 shells.
Apparently, Seoul turned them down, claiming export law, but the real reasons are more complex. This includes not wanting to antagonize Moscow further, the changed political environment with Trump and basically having a list of paid-up customers for their defense exports already. Also, some trust issues developed with phone calls that went around the govt and directly to the enterprises.
Underworld
Burgerland
JJE
You guys always say that there are reasons, but you never articulate them.
You talk about 2014, and all that happened in 2014 is that Putin annexed Crimea and started a civil war in the Donbas.
isabelle
And what if this war were to end on the aggressor's terms, with Ukraine losing sovereignty and its people subjugated under Moscow's sway? Would that be acceptable to you?
It certainly would not be to me. I believe that wanton aggression must be forcefully stopped, lest the aggressors continue their rampage -- and the lessons of history suggest that they will: c.f. the Munich Agreement, 2014 Crimea annexation, etc.
You are obviously entitled to hold any opinion you choose, but to me, the "best" outcome for a pacifist would be for the aggressor to be stopped, pay reparations, and face justice. The costs for any other would-be aggressors would then hopefully be so great that they are deterred, and future wars averted.
isabelle
Pushing erroneous claims and attempting to portray them as "underpinning causes of the conflict" doesn't change the fact that they are erroneous.
stormcrow
Russia . . . Aren’t you happy that you don’t live next to such an awful country?
JJE
Believe many have listed a multitude of causes to this conflict, many times - not going to do your own homework for you (and there's much to be done in that department, evidently, if that is 'all' that happened in 2014 and before).
The ground operation only gets a one-paragraph/sentence mention. Actually, RFAF are clearing areas at record pace recently - it even mentioned as such in an article here just yesterday, comparing the area taken in the last one month to half the size of Greater London. Well, the photos are a bombing sortie in direct support of ongoing ground operations too.
Burgerland
"Pushing erroneous claims and attempting to portray them as "underpinning causes of the conflict" doesn't change the fact that they are erroneous."
Except when they are not.
"You guys always say that there are reasons, but you never articulate them."
You guys always ignore / deny and fall back on D.C. propaganda lines when those reasons are quoted / linked by various posters. Btw, still no answer on this? -" Do you condemn Biden admin on the way out pushing Zelensky to draft 18 year old Ukrainian boys to die for US geopolitical goals half the world away."?
ok1517
More destruction, more terror brought upon Ukraine by Putain's marauders!
They will continue their genocide attempt as long as the free world doesn't finally implement red lines!
Until the free, freedom loving world finally provides Ukraine with what Ukraine needs to defeat those hordes!
To all those wanting peace, YES, me, too, but under the conditions set by President Zelenskyy!
A united, free Ukraine, including all illegally occupied areas, including but not limited to Crimea!
Ukraine prevails (more than 1.000 days already facing this 3-day-limited-operation)