Synopsis:
A comprehensive aerial attack was launched by Russia on Ukraine last Friday, involving the use of 93 missiles and almost 200 drones, as reported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He painted a grim picture of the event as one of Ukraine’s energy sector’s most devastating assaults since Russia’s outright invasion started roughly three years ago.
Most of these missiles were counteracted by Ukrainian defenses, including 11 cruise missiles intercepted with the help of Western allies’ F-16 fighter jets. President Zelenskyy conveyed Russia’s acts as an act of terror committed upon the Ukrainian mass populace, through his Telegram channel.
He repeated his plea for international unity against Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighting the necessity for firm global reaction to stop Putin’s reign of terror. The inevitable course of the conflict is yet to be determined, with President-elect Donald Trump revealing his plans to wrap up the conflict while questioning continued U.S. military assistance for Kyiv.
On the attack day, Russia’s intent to target transport systems and other key facilities was confirmed by the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv. Russia’s ongoing attempts to disrupt Ukraine’s power supply reveals a strategic goal to dishearten civilians devoid of essential amenities, while simultaneously obstructing Ukraine’s defensive manufacturing.
Ukraine’s Energy Minister, Herman Halushchenko, guaranteed efforts to reduce the effect on the country’s energy systems were in progress. Concurrently, the Ukrainian air force reported many strike drones released above Ukraine, followed by an onslaught of cruise missiles flying through national airspace. The report also cited the use of airborne ballistic Kinzhal missiles against western Ukraine, which are believed to be targeted at debilitated Ukraine’s defense manufacturing abilities.
On November 28, a similar attack involving roughly 200 missiles and drones had resulted in power outages for over a million households before emergency crews could restore services. Ukrainian officials warn that Russia is likely to launch further strikes powered by their stockpile of cruise and ballistic missiles.
On November 21, Russia executed its first-ever deployment of an intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile, the Oreshnik, against an industrial facility in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Putin called the attack retaliation following Ukrainian attacks on Russian lands employing long-range Western arms. However, American officials expressed worries that Russia might deploy the Oreshnik again soon.
During three years of ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, about half of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been decimated causing frequent power blackouts. Although Ukraine’s Western allies have provided air defense systems to protect Ukraine’s crucial structures, Russia has remained persistent in penetrating these defenses with substantial missile and drone attacks.
In these attacks, Russian forces have secured an upper hand this year, systematically breaching Ukrainian defenses in the east in a series of slow yet unyielding offensives.