KYIV — In a chilling escalation of
its winter strategy, Kyiv faced a second consecutive night of drone assaults,
part of a broader campaign by Russia to cripple Ukraine’s energy infrastructure
as the cold season approaches.
A
dual-pronged assault
During the pre-dawn hours, Russian
drones struck multiple districts of Kyiv, damaging residential
buildings—including a high-rise where ten people were rescued from a fire—and
knocking out power in wide areas of the city.
Across Ukraine, energy facilities have been under relentless attack: the
country’s state grid operator notes that Russia has shifted from sporadic
missile strikes to a “scorched earth” approach targeting substations and
distribution networks. Euromaidan Press+1
The
scale and intent
According to Ukrainian officials,
the latest night barrage included hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles.
The declared aim: not just to damage individual sites but to undermine the
stability of the power grid as winter looms.
Ukraine’s Energy Minister accused Russia of systematically trying to destroy
essential infrastructure, while Moscow justified the strikes as retaliation and
labelled energy facilities “legitimate military targets.
Consequences
on the ground
Widespread blackouts affected homes,
businesses and critical services in Kyiv and beyond.
Tens of thousands of households
remain without heat or reliable power, raising fears as freezing weather sets
in.
The psychological toll is mounting:
Ukraine is now entering its fourth winter under conditions that officials say
Russia is deliberately trying to exploit. Euromaidan Press
Ukraine’s
response and resilience
Despite the persistent attacks,
Ukrainian repair crews continue to restore damaged facilities around the clock.
The grid operator reports that more than half of the transformers have been
fortified against drone strikes. Euromaidan Press
Nevertheless, Kyiv is calling for increased western support—especially enhanced
air defence systems—to hold back the intensifying campaign. Daily Sabah
Why
now?
Analysts say the timing and
intensity reflect Moscow’s calculation: by targeting energy infrastructure when
temperatures drop, they aim to degrade morale, create civilian hardship, and
force Kyiv into more costly defence and recovery efforts. Al Jazeera
For Kyiv, the campaign presents not just a military challenge but a domestic
one: keeping lights on and heat flowing is now a key front in the war.
What
happens next?
With winter fast approaching:
Expect more drone and missile
strikes aimed at heating plants, electricity substations and gas
infrastructure.
The strain on Ukraine’s civilian
population may grow, potentially exerting pressure on the Ukrainian government
and international partners.
The effectiveness of Ukraine’s air
defences and international aid will become ever more crucial in determining
whether Russia succeeds in its energy-war strategy.
The second night of drone attacks on
Kyiv highlights a grim reality: this war is no longer only fought on the
battlefield, but within the wires and pipes that keep millions of civilians
alive through the cold months.