Putin threatens Kyiv decision-makers after striking energy grid
3 min read
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stark warning that Moscow could target decision-making centres in Kyiv with the newly unveiled Oreshnik ballistic missile. The threat came shortly after Russia launched a large-scale strike on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure overnight, which Putin described as retaliation for Ukrainian missile attacks on Russian territory using US-supplied Atacms missiles.
In a televised address, Putin claimed the missile strikes were a response to what he called “continued attacks” on Russian soil, particularly referencing the strikes that targeted areas inside Russia using the advanced Atacms and UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. These missiles marked the first Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory since the invasion began in February 2022, following approval from Western allies, including the US, the UK, and France.
The Russian attack, which unfolded over several hours, involved a mix of drones and missiles. Though no fatalities were reported, the strike left over one million Ukrainians without power. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the use of cluster munitions, which he said had been deployed against both civilian and energy infrastructure, exacerbating the situation. Zelensky described these weapons as particularly dangerous due to their indiscriminate nature and their ability to hinder rescue and repair efforts.
Putin also showcased the Oreshnik missile as a part of Russia’s new arsenal, claiming it was an unstoppable weapon that cannot be intercepted. US officials have noted, however, that Russia likely has only a limited number of these missiles and would need time to produce more.
In his nightly address, Zelensky responded, asserting that Putin’s continued escalation of the war reflects his unwillingness to seek peace. “Putin has no interest in ending this war. He aims to prevent others from doing so,” Zelensky said. He suggested that the Russian leader is attempting to pressure the United States, particularly President Joe Biden, to accept Russia’s terms.
Putin further intensified the rhetoric by declaring that Russia would prevent Ukraine from acquiring nuclear weapons, warning that should Ukraine ever attain such weapons, Russia would “use all means of destruction” at its disposal. This threat seemed to reference recent reports suggesting Western officials were considering the possibility of providing Ukraine with nuclear capabilities, a move that would fundamentally alter the security balance in the region. Zelensky has voiced concerns over the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, in which Ukraine gave up the nuclear weapons it inherited from the Soviet Union, leaving the country without the protection that such weapons might have provided in the face of Russian aggression.
The latest wave of Russian attacks resulted in explosions in multiple cities, including Odesa, Kharkiv, and Lutsk, while Kyiv was also targeted. However, Ukrainian authorities reported that all missiles aimed at the capital were intercepted by air defence systems, with the attack lasting nearly nine-and-a-half hours. Despite this success, the strikes affected at least 12 regions across Ukraine, including three in the west. In response, Ukrainian energy officials imposed emergency power outages to prevent the grid from becoming overloaded, affecting hundreds of thousands of residents. In the Rivne region alone, more than 280,000 people lost power, while Lviv saw over 500,000 homes and businesses left without electricity.
With winter approaching, the power grid has become a critical vulnerability for Ukraine. Temperatures are already dropping, and the country has experienced its first snowfalls. Ukrainian authorities fear that Russia will continue to target the energy sector with coordinated attacks, which could leave millions without power during the harsh winter months. Ukrainian officials have long warned that Russia is stockpiling missiles for such attacks. Earlier this month, DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, reported significant damage to its thermal energy plants, leading to widespread blackouts.
This most recent attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure was the eleventh major strike since March, according to DTEK. The company also highlighted the ongoing impact of the war on the country’s energy systems, with its plants having been attacked more than 190 times since the start of the invasion. In a bid to help Ukraine restore its power infrastructure, the European Commission and the US have provided up to €107 million in equipment aid.
For Ukrainians, the coming winter marks the third consecutive season spent enduring the brutal realities of the war. With power shortages and the constant threat of missile attacks, Ukrainians are bracing themselves for yet another harsh winter, hoping that international support will help them maintain resilience in the face of ongoing Russian aggression.
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