Russia launched a wave of missiles and drones targeting Ukrainian energy facilities on Wednesday, intensifying its months-long bombing campaign at a critical stage in the conflict. The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia deployed 43 cruise and ballistic missiles and 74 attack drones, primarily aimed at sites in western Ukraine.
The violent barrage followed Ukraine’s announcement of its largest aerial assault on Russian military factories and energy hubs, which were located hundreds of kilometers from the frontline. Oleksandra Komuna, an elderly resident of Sknyliv, described the chaos during the attack, stating, “All the doors and windows were blown out, everything was blown out,” sending shockwaves across the village.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the missile strikes, emphasizing the persistent threat to Ukraine’s energy sector amid winter. The Russian defense ministry confirmed the strikes, claiming they were precise and targeted energy facilities that support the Ukrainian military-industrial complex. However, the Ukrainian air force asserted it had downed 30 missiles and 47 drones during the assault, while Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that the Russian offensive had “failed.”
In response to the escalating conflict, Zelensky urged Western nations to utilize approximately $250 billion in frozen Russian assets for weapons procurement during a press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw. The EU recently transferred the first three billion euros ($3.1 billion) of a loan backed by interest from these frozen assets to Ukraine.
On the same day, the U.S. State Department announced new sanctions against over 150 individuals and entities tied to Russia’s defense sector. Meanwhile, Polish authorities scrambled fighter jets to secure their airspace, reporting no violations during their three-hour operation.
The governor of Ukraine’s Ivano-Frankivsk region reported that critical infrastructure had been targeted in the Russian attack. In Lviv region, authorities confirmed damage to facilities in Drogobych and Stryi but noted the absence of casualties. The Russian defense ministry later claimed success in striking ground infrastructure at one of the largest underground gas storage facilities in Stryi.
The aftermath of the missile strike resulted in electricity shortages in parts of Kherson, as the air raid alerts spread across Ukraine. Moscow has maintained a relentless bombing campaign, claiming its strikes focus on energy infrastructure that bolsters Ukraine’s military capabilities.
On the ground situation remains dire for Ukraine, with Russian forces making advances in the northern Kharkiv and eastern Donetsk regions. Recently, the Russian military confirmed the capture of the village of Ukrainka in the Donetsk region. Despite nearly three years of conflict, both sides continue to engage in limited cooperation, with a recent exchange of 25 prisoners of war, as reported by Zelensky via social media.
