Kyiv (Ukraine) On Wednesday, Russia launched a major cruise missile and ballistic missile attack against regions in Ukraine. The attack targeted energy production, and forced authorities to shut the power grid down in some areas, despite freezing temperatures.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced that they had launched a strike against “critically-important facilities of gas and infrastructure energy that ensures the functioning of Ukraine’s military industrial complex.” The Russian Defense Ministry did not give any details about the locations of the targets or other information.
The barrage was launched a day after Russia’s Defense Ministry had vowed to respond to an attack it claimed involved multiple missiles supplied by the West. Kyiv didn’t confirm the attack but said that they had hit a fuel depot and an oil refinery, as well as a chemical factory producing ammunition, and two anti-aircraft systems in a drone and missile attack that reached nearly 700 miles into Russia.
The nearly three-year-old war has been marked by long-range attacks. On the frontline, which stretches 600 miles between the northeast and southern Ukraine, both armies are engaged in an attrition war. Over the last year, Russia has made slow but steady progress on the battlefield.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia had attacked Ukraine overnight with 43 missiles, and 74 drones. The Ukrainian Air Force said that a total of 30 rockets and 47 drones had been shot down and 27 drones did not reach their targets.
Russian missiles targeted targets in the Lviv region, in western Ukraine near Poland, and Kharkiv, in northeast Ukraine bordering Russia. Ukrenergo, the state-owned energy company in Ukraine, reported power outages across six regions. As a precaution, it often stops production during an attack.
Herman Halushchenko, Minister of Energy, wrote on Facebook: “The enemy continues terrorizing Ukrainians.”
Ukrenergo has urged its customers not to use power-hungry appliances.
In an attempt to break Ukraine’s spirit, Russia has repeatedly attempted to cripple the power grid of Ukraine, depriving the country of heat, electricity, and running water. These attacks also aimed to disrupt Ukraine’s defence manufacturing industry.
The U.N. Refugee Agency reported in September last year that Ukraine has lost over 60% of its estimated energy generation capacity.
The Ukrainian authorities are trying to rebuild the power generation system after the attack. However, the barrages of shelling have reduced production. Western partners are helping Ukraine rebuild.
Zelenskyy, a Telegram user, said: “It’s the middle of winter and Russia’s objective remains unchanged. Our energy infrastructure.”
He called on Western partners to speed up the delivery of air defense weapons to Ukraine, stating that “promises were made but they have not yet been fully realized.”
Poland pledges to accelerate Ukraine’s EU Membership Quest
Separately on Wednesday, the Polish prime minister Donald Tusk pledged to use Poland’s EU presidency to advance Ukraine’s bid for membership.
Tusk, standing alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Warsaw and addressing reporters: “We will end the deadlock we are experiencing in this matter.” “We will speed up the accession process.”
Zelenskyy visited Poland on Wednesday, after both countries had reached an agreement regarding the exhumation and burial of Polish victims who were killed by Ukrainian nationalists during World War II. This issue has been a source of tension between the two nations for many years.
