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Russia Responds to ATACMS with Massive Attack on Ukraine's Energy Grid

A Kh-47M2 Kinzhal being carried by a Mikoyhan Mig-31K interceptor. Credit: kremlin.ru

Russia responded, on the night of Dec. 13, to Ukraine’s latest attack on Russian soil—using NATO-directed ATACMS against an airfield in Taganrog—with a major attack on Ukraine’s energy grid. Altogether 93 Russian Kinzhal and Iskander missiles, and 200 drones descended on key energy facilities in Ukraine, including, reportedly, in the important port city of Odessa. Ukraine’s unicameral Verkhovna Rada on its Telegram channel called for “information silence” on reporting this attack. They want to prevent fear and panic spreading among their population; that would feed the growing mood among Ukrainians seeking an end to the conflict. Targets were hit in Kiev, Odessa, Poltava, Kharkov, Ivano-Frankovsk and the Cherkasy regions. A national air raid alert had been called throughout the country.

In Kiev and other regions, emergency power outages began against the backdrop of missile strikes. Energy Minister German Galushchenko after the attack said that the energy system of the entirety of Ukraine is under threat; three stages of shutdowns have been introduced, and there may be no power for up to 12 hours. The head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration Maksym Kozitsky also reported on strikes on energy facilities in the region. Attacks also targetted an airfield in Kiev, where F16 fighter pilots are being trained.

Due to the massive attack, Poland also put their own fighters on alert.