In brief
In a display of aggression, Russia has launched a large-scale attack involving 93 missiles and 200 drones aimed at Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Ukrainian officials reported extensive damage, with calls for international intervention intensifying amidst fears of a nuclear safety crisis.
A thermal power plant in an undisclosed location in Ukraine in November has been repeatedly targeted by Russian airstrikes. Credit...Mauricio Lima for The New York TimesBy Maria Varenikova Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine Dec. 13, 2024, 8:34 a.m. ETIn a dramatic escalation, Russia has executed a missile assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure early Friday morning, which President Volodymyr Zelensky described as “one of the largest strikes” directed at the country’s power facilities. The barrage included 93 missiles and 200 drones, with Zelensky noting the involvement of at least one North Korean missile in the attack. Ukraine’s energy minister, Herman Halushchenko, stated on Facebook, “Once again, the energy sector across Ukraine is under massive attack.” Despite Ukraine's efforts, 81 missiles were intercepted, with F16 fighter jets contributing to the defense by bringing down 11 incoming threats. Zelensky has appealed for heightened responses from Ukraine’s international partners, asserting that “The world can stop this madness.”In the wake of this targeted aggression, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reiterated its demand for Russia to halt attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The agency's resolution emphasized the risks posed to nuclear safety, underscoring the potential for a catastrophic radioactive incident spurred by Russia's actions. Following Friday’s strikes, it was reported that five of Ukraine’s nine functioning nuclear reactors had to reduce their output due to the severe conditions.Initial reports indicated damage primarily in western Ukraine, with the regions of Lviv and Ternopil experiencing widespread power outages. Svitlana Onyshchuk, head of the Ivano-Frankivsk military administration, remarked on social media that her area had undergone “the most massive attack since the start of the full-scale war.”Russia has been launching drone and missile assaults on a nightly basis, often targeting critical infrastructure like power plants in a systematic strategy to create nationwide blackouts. Military analysts had speculated about potential escalation from President Vladimir V. Putin, particularly following the fall of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, an allied regime. However, some experts argue that due to dwindling missile stocks, Russia might be nearing the limits of its offensive capabilities.In a statement on Wednesday, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh noted the potential usage of a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, the Oreshnik, in upcoming strikes, following its previous deployment against a military factory in Dnipro in November as Ukraine employed American-supplied missiles against Russian targets.Anastasia Kuznietsova contributed reporting. Maria Varenikova covers Ukraine and its war with Russia.
