Seven Killed in Massive Russian Air Attack on Ukraine, Power Infrastructure Targeted
Russia launched one of the most extensive air assaults on Ukraine since the start of the war, according to Ukraine’s air force chief. The attack, involving missiles and drones, struck more than half of Ukraine’s regions on Monday, resulting in at least seven deaths and numerous injuries. The strikes targeted Ukraine’s power infrastructure, leading to widespread blackouts, with the entire country placed on high alert and citizens urged to seek shelter.
Russia confirmed the attacks, stating that its missiles and drones aimed at Ukraine’s energy infrastructure were successful, in line with its long-term strategy to cripple the country’s power grid. The Ukrainian air force commander, Mykola Oleshchuk, described the assault as “the most massive aerial attack” so far, with Russia launching 127 missiles and 109 drones overnight and into Monday morning. Ukrainian forces managed to intercept 102 of the missiles and 99 of the drones.
During the attack, a Russian missile hit a civilian infrastructure building in Kryvyi Rih in eastern Ukraine, killing one woman and leaving five others missing. Meanwhile, reports from NATO member Poland indicated that an “object,” likely a drone based on its flight trajectory and speed, entered Polish airspace during the onslaught. NATO criticized Russia for this breach, labeling it “irresponsible and potentially dangerous.”
Prior to this, a December attack that involved 158 missiles and drones was considered the largest. The recent strikes seemed aimed not only at crippling Ukraine’s power supply but also at weakening Ukrainian morale, which had been bolstered by a recent successful incursion into Russia’s Kursk region.
In addition to the primary targets, 15 Ukrainian regions were hit by various weapons, including drones, cruise missiles, and supersonic missiles. The attacks resulted in numerous casualties:
- In the Dnipropetrovsk region, two men aged 69 and 47 were killed in separate incidents, with a 14-year-old girl among the injured.
- A man died when his house was hit in Zaporizhzhia.
- In Lutsk, an infrastructure facility was struck, killing one person and injuring five others, leaving most of the city without running water.
- A missile strike in Izyum, Kharkiv region, claimed the life of another man.
- A woman died in the Zhytomyr region when missiles hit homes and infrastructure.
The strikes caused significant damage to Ukraine’s infrastructure, resulting in power outages across multiple cities, including Kyiv, and disruptions to water supplies. A hydroelectric plant north of Kyiv was among the targets, though the full extent of the damage is still being assessed. Russia has been attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, with renewed intensity in recent months.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in June that half of Ukraine’s electricity-generating capacity had been destroyed since Russia ramped up attacks on energy facilities in March. Despite buying energy from the European Union, Ukraine still faces daily planned blackouts to conserve power for critical needs, such as hospitals and military operations. Russia’s defense ministry reported that its strikes also targeted gas facilities and locations storing Western-supplied weapons, causing disruptions in rail transport for military supplies.
For Kyiv residents, the attacks forced many to seek shelter and experience power cuts for the first time in a month. On the battlefield, Ukraine has faced setbacks, with Russian forces gaining ground in the eastern Donbas region and challenges with mobilization as reports indicate Ukraine might be running low on personnel. However, the recent offensive in Kursk, where Ukrainian soldiers raised their flag in captured Russian villages, provided a morale boost and demonstrated Kyiv’s capability for strategic operations.
President Zelensky has urged Western allies, including the United States, Britain, and France, to loosen restrictions on the use of their weapons, allowing Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory. Although some Western weapons can be used against targets inside Russia, long-range weaponry is still restricted. Zelensky emphasized that greater cooperation with European air forces could significantly enhance Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.
Additionally, Ukraine attempted to strike an oil refinery in Yaroslavl, northeast of Moscow, according to local reports, but no damage or casualties were reported. The Russian defense ministry also claimed to have destroyed nine drones over its Saratov region, located 900 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
