15 of the 24 Ukrainian regions were hit, said Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Telegram. “There are dead and injured.” The main target of the attacks was once again Ukraine’s energy system. There were power outages and emergency shutdowns in Kyiv and other parts of the country.
Russia has deployed more than 100 missiles and a similar number of combat drones, said President Volodymyr Zelensky. He renewed Kiev’s pleading request to partner countries to allow the use of Western weapons against military targets deep in Russia’s rear area. “Every leader, every partner of ours knows what strong decisions are necessary to end this war, and to do so fairly.” There should be no range restrictions for Ukraine, because Russia is not limiting its attacks either. Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba made similar appeals to the allies. So far, the Ukrainian army is not allowed to use many long-range weapons against targets in Russia in accordance with Western requirements.
Because the attacks lasted all morning, data on casualties and damage were slow to come in. Initial official reports said there were 5 dead and 17 injured in various parts of the country. The bombing hit Ukraine as people were returning to work after the Independence Day weekend.
Swarms of combat drones
In Kiev, the air raid warning was only lifted after almost eight hours at around 1:45 p.m. local time (12:45 p.m. CEST), because swarms of Russian combat drones were still being registered in the airspace. Videos showed how people in the city of millions crowded together and used the subway stations as an underground refuge.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the Russian army temporarily deployed eleven long-range Tu-95 bombers, which serve as launch pads for cruise missiles. In addition, Kinzhal hypersonic missiles were reportedly fired at Ukraine. Ukraine was also attacked with Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea. According to preliminary information, dozens of drones were also detected in the air. As usual, Ukraine did not provide any information on hits on military targets.
Because of the proximity of the Russian attacks to the Polish border, the Polish military sent interceptors, the PAP news agency reported. Aircraft from other allies were also involved in the operation.
“The enemy is not giving up on its plans to turn off the lights for the Ukrainians,” wrote Energy Minister Herman Halutschschtenko on Facebook. The situation is difficult. The electricity supplier Ukrenerho and other energy companies are trying to relieve the strain on the network by means of emergency shutdowns. Where there is no electricity, the water supply usually fails too.
Infrastructure as a goal
Since the turn of the year 2023/24, Russia has attempted to disable power plants and Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with several combined air strikes. In an attack on December 29, the Russian army used 122 rockets and cruise missiles as well as 36 drones, according to Kyiv’s count. More than 30 people were killed in Ukraine.
Ukraine has been fending off a major Russian invasion since February 2022. On Saturday, Europe’s second-largest country celebrated the 33rd anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union.
Meanwhile, according to the Defense Ministry in Moscow, Russian air defense destroyed 20 drones aimed at Russian territory from Ukraine during the night. Nine of them were intercepted over the Saratov region, three over Kursk and two each over Belgorod, Bryansk and Tula. One drone each was discovered over the Oryol and Ryaza regions. In Saratov, about 900 kilometers from the border with Ukraine, the airport was damaged, the authorities said, and a woman was injured. Flight operations resumed on Monday morning.
Near Saratov lies the town of Engels, where there is a strategic military base for bombers that often fly missions against Ukraine. It was initially unclear whether the base was the target of the Ukrainian attacks. Ukraine did not immediately comment. But Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, wrote on Telegram: “The desire to destroy our energy will cost the Russians dearly: their infrastructure.”
In Russia’s view, negotiations with Ukraine about a ceasefire have almost lost their importance. Ukraine’s invasion of the Russian border region of Kursk cannot be tolerated, said the spokesman for the Russian presidential office, Dmitry Peskov. There must be a reaction. There have been no talks about a ceasefire. The issue is no longer relevant.
