Russia says preparing 'massive strikes' on Ukraine's energy sector

MOSCOW: The Russian defense ministry announced on Sunday that it is preparing large-scale attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, a retaliatory move against Kyiv's strikes on civilian facilities and Russia's oil and energy complex, according to a statement released on Telegram. The move comes after Moscow's repeated winter attacks on Ukrainian power plants, causing millions of people to suffer in freezing temperatures without electricity.

Both nations have recently escalated their long-range strikes, targeting various infrastructures including warehouses, businesses, oil and port facilities, as well as ships, resulting in increased civilian casualties. On Sunday, Russian forces claimed to have struck a plant in Kyiv that manufactures asbestos and cement, targeting its warehouses believed to store explosives.

Additionally, a strike on a drone and munitions manufacturer was reported. On Saturday, a Russian assault on an ammunition depot in the outskirts of Kyiv caused a massive explosion, resulting in at least 37 deaths. In response, Ukraine launched an attack on an oil refinery using drones in northwestern Russia, leading to a fire, as per local authorities.