Early Thursday, air raid sirens blared across every region of Ukraine as Russia unleashed a wave of missiles and drones targeting the country’s power grid. Nearly a million people were left without electricity as the attacks caused widespread damage.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Russia fired around 100 drones and over 90 missiles, including some loaded with cluster bombs. “Every attack shows how urgently we need air defense systems here in Ukraine, where they save lives every day,” he said. “This is especially critical in winter when protecting infrastructure is a matter of survival.”
Ukraine’s air force said it managed to shoot down 79 out of the 91 missiles launched, and 35 of the 97 drones. Another 62 drones were jammed electronically. Still, 12 strikes hit vital energy facilities, leaving large areas struggling to restore power.
To make matters worse, Russia is using new tricks to make its weapons harder to stop, like releasing decoy traps and using electronic jammers. The air force explained that Ukraine’s older defense systems are struggling to keep up, and more modern Western equipment is urgently needed to defend the country’s key infrastructure.
Bad weather also played a role in the chaos. Thick fog and heavy clouds made it harder for ground crews and pilots to spot and intercept the incoming missiles and drones.
Russia Ramps Up Missile Production
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin boasted about his country’s missile capabilities, claiming they are unmatched in the world. Speaking at a meeting in Kazakhstan, he said Russia produces ten times more missiles than all NATO countries combined and is planning to boost production even further.
Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Galushchenko called the strikes a “massive blow” to the nation’s energy system. Emergency power cuts were put in place as the country scrambled to deal with the damage. This marks the 11th time in 2024 that Russia has launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Kyiv and Beyond: The Impact of the Strikes
In Kyiv, air raid alerts lasted more than nine hours. The city’s military officials reported all missiles and drones targeting the capital were successfully destroyed, but other regions were not as fortunate. Explosions rocked various parts of Ukraine, cutting off power and water supplies.
In Lviv, near the Polish border, over half a million people lost electricity. Rivne Oblast reported 280,000 people without power, while Volyn Oblast had 215,000 disconnected. Across Ukraine, countless towns and cities were left in darkness.
A Chilling Warning from Ukrainian Officials
Andriy Yermak, a top aide to President Zelenskyy, accused Russia of using “terror tactics” by attacking civilians and energy supplies during the freezing winter months. He also pointed fingers at Russia’s allies, like North Korea, for helping them stockpile weapons for these attacks.
“They’re trying to break us by targeting ordinary people,” Yermak said. “But Ukraine will not back down. We will respond.”
Despite the devastation, Ukrainian forces remain determined, calling for more international support to help them defend their country during this critical time.