Russia launches the ‘most enormous’ military attack against Ukraine’s electrical grid

Russia launched an attack on Ukraine on Monday using more than 200 missiles and drones, destroying energy infrastructure across the country and killing seven people, according to Kyiv. Poland, a nearby NATO member, also reported that a drone had likely entered its territory.

Many places, including sections of Kyiv, experienced power outages and water supply disruptions. According to officials, the strike, which occurred two and a half years after the full-scale invasion, targeted the nation’s essential infrastructure, including the electrical grid.

In an apparent attempt to weaken the system before the winter when most people need energy and warmth, Russia increased its attacks on the Ukrainian power grid in March, according to Kyiv.

According to Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk on Telegram, the air force shot down 102 out of 127 incoming missiles and 99 out of 109 drones, calling the air, ground, and sea strike “the most massive” in the conflict.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reported that damage was sustained in fifteen locations. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, “the energy sector is severely damaged.”

Zelenskiy stated that he had spoken with his senior commander about Ukraine’s response to the strike, saying, “We are preparing it.”

According to Russia’s defense ministry, its soldiers attacked crucial Ukrainian energy infrastructure with extremely precise weaponry, therefore bolstering the country’s military-industrial complex. It included locations for gas compressor stations, electrical substations, and aircraft weapon storage.

The missile and drone salvo coincided with Russia’s steady advance in eastern Ukraine, encroaching on the transportation center of Pokrovsk, and Ukraine’s significant cross-border invasion into the western Kursk area of Russia.

Zelenskiy announced that a decision had been made to “further strengthen” the Pokrovsk front following a meeting with top officials. The military reported that at least 56 combat encounters had occurred on Monday.

Polish Aerospace

Following the entry of a “object” into its airspace and potential landing on Polish territory, Poland declared that a search was under way.

According to Jacek Goryszewski, a spokesman for the Polish army’s operational headquarters, “we assume that it was a drone, as the trajectory of the flight and the speed indicate that it was definitely not a missile.” Reuters reported this information.

The head of Ukraine’s air force said that two Russian drones had crossed into Belarus.

Leading authorities in Kiev once more pleaded with their armaments suppliers and allies to permit long-range strikes into Russia.

Zelenskiy also intensified his appeal for allies to assist Ukraine in firing down drones and missiles above its airspace.

At the beginning of the invasion, Ukraine lacked strong long-range weaponry. However, in the intervening period, it created a number of models of long-range attack drones and used them to strike targets located deep into Russia, such as military airfields and oil refineries.

Zelenskiy said over the weekend that Ukraine had created a brand-new “drone missile” that was faster and more potent than previous weapons in Kyiv’s inventory and had been deployed to target Russia.

BROKEN ACCESSORIES

Emergency services reported that at least 47 persons, including four children, were hurt.

Volyn and Rivne in the northwest, Khmelnytskyi, Lviv, and Ivano-Frankivsk in the west, Zhytomyr in the north, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, and Vinnytsia in central Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia in the southeast, and Odesa in the south were among the regions that reported power outages or other critical infrastructure disruptions.

Zelenskiy said that cluster bombs were used to assault a few civilian targets.

There were minor power outages in neighboring Moldova, whose grid is connected to Ukraine’s.

An spokesperson from Ukraine’s foreign ministry stated that a hydroelectric plant in the Kyiv area had been attacked. Following an apparent attack at a plant, a damaged dam and fire were shown in a video that was shared on social media and confirmed by Reuters. Another video that was independently confirmed featured a missile striking a water reservoir.

Authorities reported that a railway infrastructure facility had been targeted in the northeastern Sumy region, from which Ukraine initiated its incursion into Russia on August 6. However, they did not specify which site or provide any other information.

At least seven persons have been confirmed killed, including a farmer in the Zaporizhzhia district and a 69-year-old man in the Dnipropetrovsk region, according to local officials. The others were located in the Volyn, Zhytomyr, and Kharkiv regions.

A damaged apartment block was reported by the mayor of Lutsk following reports of explosions.

Additionally, explosions rocked central Kiev, while air defenses engaged invading targets outside.

According to the air force, at least 11 TU-95 strategic bombers were deployed in the attack.

Russia and Ukraine refute any intentional targeting of civilians. Both claim that their strikes are meant to destroy vital infrastructure for the other’s military campaign.