Russia announces massive strikes planned against Ukraine's energy infrastructure

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Russian military is preparing for a significant offensive against Ukrainian energy infrastructure, according to the defense ministry on Sunday, just days after launching a devastating attack on a warehouse near Kyiv.

In a post on Telegram, the ministry said Russian forces had “begun preparations to launch massive strikes against Ukraine’s energy facilities,” describing the move as retribution for Kyiv’s targeting of Russian energy infrastructure.

Earlier this month, Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal told POLITICO that “Putin wants to finish off (Ukraine’s) energy system” and that Kyiv would work on strengthening its energy and infrastructure resilience to avoid a repeat of last winter’s freezing blackouts .

The Ministry of Defense also said Moscow had “(carried) out coordinated strikes” against an industrial facility in Kyiv. A Russian attack launched on Friday against a warehouse in Myla near the Ukrainian capital reportedly killed 38 people, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X Sunday, with 20 injured and four people missing since the attack. The warehouse attack resulted in fires that damaged at least 50 residential homes.

“In total, this week alone, the Russians have launched nearly 2,000 strike drones, more than 1,600 aerial bombs, and 31 missiles of various types,” Zelenskyy added.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have also said that their intelligence suggests Russia is planning a new ground attack on Kyiv. Pavlo Palisa, deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office, told reporters that Russian military chiefs have been tasked by the Kremlin’s political leaders with planning and preparing for attacks on both the Ukrainian capital and the city of Chernihiv.

Saturday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said NATO’s Secretary-General Mark Rutte had “his assessment of the situation in the region and on the Ukrainian-Russian front” and that “the escalation from Russia’s side is progressing.”

“Ukraine needs greater air support,” Tusk urged.