August 27th 2024.
In a shocking turn of events, reports have surfaced that Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on multiple energy infrastructure sites in Ukraine overnight. This attack, which marks the biggest air assault since the war began, has been confirmed by Ukrainian officials.
President Volodmyr Zelensky, in his daily address, condemned the attack and vowed to retaliate against Russia. He also implored allies to lift restrictions on the use of Western weapons for long-range strikes inside Russian territory. According to Zelensky, these long-range strikes are crucial in destroying Russian forces in the exact areas from where they launch strikes on Ukraine.
The attack, which resulted in the death of at least seven people and caused power outages in several cities, has been described by Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk as Russia's most massive air attack in the past two-and-a-half years of conflict. It is reported that more than 100 missiles of various types and around 100 Shahed drones were used in the nationwide strikes, as confirmed by President Zelensky.
According to Oleshchuk, Ukraine successfully shot down 102 missiles and 99 attack drones. The country's air force detected the incoming missiles and drones in almost all regions, from the frontline eastern regions of Kharkiv and Dnipro to the southern port city of Odesa and even the capital, Kyiv.
In his earlier statement on Telegram, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal expressed his disappointment in the attack, stating that Russian terrorists have once again targeted energy infrastructure. The attacks were carried out using a combination of drones, cruise missiles, and hypersonic Kinzhal missiles in at least 15 regions, causing significant damage.
As a result of the attack, Ukraine's national energy company, Ukrenergo, was forced to implement emergency power cuts to stabilize the system. Power outages have been reported in several cities, including Kyiv and Dnipro, as confirmed by Serhii Kovalenko, chief executive of the Yasno energy company. Tragically, two people were killed and four others injured in the city of Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine, as reported by Yevhen Sytnychenko, the head of Kryvyi Rih district military administration.
It is no secret that Ukraine had been anticipating a major attack from Russia for weeks, particularly after their surprise incursion into the border region of Kursk. In fact, the US Embassy in Kyiv had warned of an increased risk of Russian drone and missile attacks ahead of Ukraine's Independence Day. And now, this overnight assault comes just hours after Ukraine's foreign ministry called on Belarus to withdraw their forces and equipment from the shared border.
It is also worth noting that former Wagner mercenaries were among the troops at the border, as reported by Kyiv. The country has urged Minsk not to make any tragic mistakes under Moscow's pressure. Throughout the war, Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure, using winter temperatures as a weapon of war. And now, with the energy sector in the crosshairs, the extent of the damage is being investigated by Ukraine's Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko.
Later, Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed that they had launched a massive strike using long-range precision air and sea-based weapons, disrupting the transport of weapons and ammunition to the frontlines. They also claimed that all designated targets were hit.
Unfortunately, there have been reports of deaths and injuries in multiple regions, including Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Volyn, Zhytomyr, and Kharkiv. At least 47 people were injured, including four children, as confirmed by Ukraine's State Emergency Service. Our teams in Kyiv and Dnipro also heard several explosions overnight.
In response to the attacks, the head of Kyiv's city military administration has advised people to stay in shelters, and emergency services in Kharkiv are working on undisclosed sites targeted in the attacks. Kyiv's Western allies have provided Ukraine with significant amounts of military equipment, but they have placed strict conditions on its use. This has limited Ukraine's ability to strike missile and drone launch sites deep inside Russia, leaving them to rely primarily on their air defenses.
Following the recent strikes, Ukrainian officials have once again appealed to their allies to allow them to strike deeper into Russia. President Zelensky believes that every leader and partner knows what is required to end this war justly, and Ukraine cannot be constrained in its long-range capabilities while the terrorists face no such limitations. The Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, has also made two requests of their allies - to affirm Ukraine's long-range strikes on all legitimate military targets and to use their air defense capabilities to shoot down missiles and drones close to their airspace.
In the early hours of Monday morning, Ukraine was hit by a massive attack from Russia, involving both missiles and drones. This was the largest air strike since the beginning of the war, according to Ukrainian officials. President Volodmyr Zelensky addressed the nation and promised to retaliate against Russia for this attack. He also pleaded with allies to lift restrictions on using Western weapons for long-range strikes inside Russian territory.
Zelensky emphasized the importance of long-range strikes in destroying Russian forces before they can launch attacks on Ukraine. He called this the optimal counter-terrorism tactic. The attack, which caused power outages and resulted in the deaths of at least seven people, has been described as the most massive air attack in the two-and-a-half years of conflict between the two countries. Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk confirmed that over 100 missiles and 100 Shahed drones were used in the attack.
However, Ukraine was able to shoot down 102 of the missiles and 99 of the attack drones, according to Oleshchuk. The Ukrainian Air Force detected dozens of missiles and drones targeting various regions of the country, from the eastern frontline regions to the capital city of Kyiv. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal also confirmed that at least 15 regions were targeted by a combination of drones, cruise missiles, and hypersonic Kinzhal missiles.
The attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure has caused widespread damage and power outages in several cities. The national energy company, Ukrenergo, has had to implement emergency power cuts to stabilize the system. The CEO of a local energy company reported that there were power outages in Kyiv and Dnipro, among other cities. In the city of Kryvyi Rih, two people were killed and four others injured when a missile hit a civilian building.
This attack comes after weeks of anticipation and preparation for a major Russian attack in response to Ukraine's incursion into the border region of Kursk. The US Embassy in Kyiv had warned of an increased risk of Russian drone and missile attacks ahead of Ukraine's Independence Day on Saturday. The attack also coincided with Ukraine's foreign ministry calling on Belarus to withdraw their forces and equipment from the shared border.
Throughout the war, Russia has consistently targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure, using freezing winter temperatures as a weapon of war. After this latest attack, Ukraine's Energy Minister has stated that the sector is in the crosshairs and the extent of the damage is still being assessed. Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry has confirmed that they launched a massive strike on Ukraine's power grid and rail lines, disrupting the transport of weapons and ammunition.
The Ukrainian authorities have reported deaths and injuries in multiple regions as a result of the attack. At least 47 people were injured, including four children. The attack was heard in both Kyiv and Dnipro, with several explosions reported. The city military administration in Kyiv has advised people to stay in shelters, and emergency services are working at undisclosed sites targeted in the attacks in Kharkiv.
Despite being provided with military equipment by their Western allies, Ukraine is not allowed to use it for long-range strikes inside Russia due to fears of escalation. Zelensky has once again asked allies to lift these restrictions, stating that Ukraine cannot be constrained in its capabilities when the terrorists face no such limitations. The Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, has also made two requests of allies: to affirm Ukraine's right to long-range strikes on Russian military targets and to use their air defense capabilities to shoot down missiles and drones near their airspace.
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