Kremlin preparing new massive attacks on Ukrainian energy sector this winter – ISW
Russian forces are reprioritizing the production of their long-range strike systems to those that can more reliably penetrate Ukrainian air defenses and accurately strike their targets, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in a report.
In a recent report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian forces are shifting their focus towards producing long-range strike systems capable of penetrating Ukrainian air defenses and accurately targeting their objectives. This strategic change comes as Russia has temporarily halted the production of Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles and Kh-32 cruise missiles due to their lower accuracy.
According to Skybytsky, Russia utilizes S-400 air defense system launchers to fire RM-48U surface-to-surface missiles, which follow a ballistic trajectory to strike ground targets. Military analysts and experts anticipate a significant increase in attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure during the colder months, as they believe the enemy aims to exploit Ukraine's limited anti-ballistic missile defense capabilities to inflict maximum damage on civilian infrastructure and exert pressure on the population.
A former advisor to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense on defense technologies and an expert in drones and electronic warfare, Serhiy Beskrestnov, warned on August 10 that Russian troops would intensify their assaults on Ukraine's energy sector this winter. This prediction was supported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who, on August 5, urged local authorities to implement resilience plans before winter sets in.
Zelenskyy emphasized three key priorities for Ukraine to survive the season: protecting critical infrastructure, ensuring adequate shelter provisions, and bolstering missile defense capabilities.
On August 8, Zelenskyy revealed that only a handful of power plants remained undamaged in Ukraine, with Russian strikes having destroyed numerous railway stations, hospitals, universities, and civilian businesses.
Written by urgent.news from Interfax-Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
