In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russia has launched its largest assault on Ukraine to date, targeting vital natural gas facilities operated by the state-owned Naftogaz Group. This comprehensive airstrike occurred overnight into Friday, as reported by Ukrainian officials.
According to the Ukrainian air force, a staggering total of 381 drones and 35 missiles were deployed in this operation. Authorities interpret this aggressive maneuver as part of Moscow’s strategy to cripple Ukraine’s power grid as winter approaches, aiming to diminish the resilience of the Ukrainian populace amidst an ongoing conflict that has now entered its fourth year.
“This is deliberate terror against civilian facilities that provide gas extraction and processing for the normal life of people,”
said Serhii Koretskyi, the chief executive of Naftogaz, emphasizing the lack of military justification for the attacks. “It has no military purpose. This is yet another act of Russian malice aimed solely at … depriving Ukrainians of warmth in winter.”
The assault saw Russia targeting Naftogaz’s gas extraction and processing plants located in the northeastern Kharkiv and central Poltava regions. Many of these facilities sustained severe damage. The Russian Ministry of Defence asserted that “all designated targets were hit,” confirming the use of drones and guided munitions in the strike.
Weaponizing winter: A strategic aim
As each winter has approached since the onset of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Russian forces have systematically attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Ukrainian officials have characterized these assaults as attempts to weaponize winter, effectively depriving civilians of essential heat, electricity, and water.
Recent months have witnessed a notable increase in Russian strike frequency, particularly targeting Ukraine’s power grid and rail networks, which are crucial for military logistics. “Russia is terrorising civilians and trying to disrupt the heating season,” stated Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko in her remarks following the latest attacks.
Casualties and infrastructure damage
The latest round of strikes left several people injured in Poltava, including an eight-year-old child and two women, according to local authorities. Furthermore, one of the blasts caused significant damage to the historic St Nicholas Church, a local architectural monument, shattering approximately half of its windows.
In response to these escalating threats, Ukraine has employed its own long-range drones to retaliate against energy targets within Russia. Notably, a drone strike recently targeted the Orsk oil refinery, located roughly 1,400 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Additionally, operations at the Azot chemical plant, one of Russia’s largest located in Berezniki, were temporarily disrupted due to a Ukrainian drone attack.