27-8-2024 (KYIV) In a devastating display of military might, Russia launched a barrage of approximately 200 missiles and drones against Ukraine on Monday, resulting in at least five fatalities and inflicting widespread damage to energy facilities across the nation. The attack, described as one of the most intense in recent weeks, has reignited concerns about the vulnerability of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure as winter approaches.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy took to Telegram to condemn the assault, stating, “It was one of the biggest combined strikes. More than a hundred missiles of various types and about a hundred Shahed drones. And like most previous Russian strikes, this one is just as sneaky, targeting critical civilian infrastructure.”
The onslaught, which comes two and a half years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, affected at least 15 regions, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. Power cuts and water supply disruptions were reported in numerous areas, including parts of the capital, Kyiv. The attack appears to be part of a concerted effort by Russian forces to degrade Ukraine’s power grid ahead of the winter months when electricity and heating are most crucial.
In a concerning development, neighbouring Poland, a NATO member, reported that an unidentified object, likely a drone, had entered its airspace. Polish military spokesperson Jacek Goryszewski told Reuters, “Most likely it was a drone and we assume so, because the trajectory of the flight and the speed indicate that it was definitely not a missile.” Polish authorities are currently conducting searches to locate the object.
Massive Russian missile & drone strikes, reportedly with over 100 missiles & circa 100 drones, hit Kyiv hydroelectric station, electric stations & substations in other regions of Ukraine. including in my native city of Lutsk in Western Ukraine. Power outages are in Kyiv, Lutsk &… pic.twitter.com/BIbnOYVcxV
— Ivan Katchanovski (@I_Katchanovski) August 26, 2024
The regions reporting strikes on power or critical infrastructure spanned the length and breadth of Ukraine, from Rivne and Volyn in the northwest to Odesa in the south. A hydropower plant in the Kyiv region was among the targets, with verified video footage showing damage to a dam and a fire at the facility.
As Ukraine grapples with the aftermath of the assault, President Zelenskiy has renewed his call for Western allies to provide long-range strike capabilities and to join Ukraine in shooting down missiles and drones over Ukrainian airspace. This plea comes as Ukraine claims to have developed a new “drone missile” capable of striking targets deep inside Russia.
The Russian defence ministry, for its part, stated that its forces had used high-precision weapons to strike important energy infrastructure in Ukraine, which it claimed supported the country’s military-industrial complex.
