Russia Strikes Ukrainian Power and Gas Facilities in Large-Scale Assault
Massive Attack Follows U.S. Decision to Suspend Intelligence Sharing
Russia launched an extensive missile and drone assault on Ukrainian infrastructure overnight on Thursday and into Friday, targeting critical power and gas facilities. The strikes have raised concerns that the recent U.S. decision to withhold intelligence-sharing could make Ukraine more vulnerable to such attacks.
German Galushchenko, Ukraine’s energy minister, reported that Russian forces carried out a “massive missile and drone” offensive, heavily impacting energy infrastructure across the country.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia deployed 261 attack vehicles, including 67 missiles of various types and 194 drones. Some drones were fitted with dummy warheads designed to mislead and overwhelm air defense systems. While Ukrainian forces managed to intercept most drones, they destroyed only 35 of the 67 missiles, with 10 additional missiles failing to reach their targets.
For the first time, French Mirage-2000 fighter jets, which arrived in Ukraine a month ago, joined F-16s in combat, aiding in air defense efforts.
The timing of the attack closely follows the U.S. decision to halt intelligence-sharing with Kyiv. Ukrainian officials and analysts fear this move may weaken Ukraine’s ability to detect and intercept Russian bombardments. American intelligence, derived from an advanced satellite network, plays a crucial role in Ukraine’s early warning systems, giving civilians time to seek shelter and helping air defense teams prepare for incoming threats.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank, warned that Russia is likely to exploit this vulnerability by ramping up missile and drone strikes. Ukraine’s success rate in intercepting large-scale bombardments has varied throughout the war, often correlating with the supply of air defense systems from Western allies.
Ongoing Assault on Ukrainian Infrastructure
Russia has persistently targeted Ukraine’s infrastructure for over three years, aiming to disrupt essential services like water and electricity while demoralizing the civilian population. Having already inflicted significant damage on power plants, Moscow has now escalated attacks on oil and gas facilities.
Naftogaz Group, Ukraine’s largest national oil and gas company, reported that the overnight assault was the 17th strike on its facilities since the war began.
“We are doing and will continue to do everything possible to ensure the country has gas,” stated Roman Chumak, the company’s head. “Damage assessments and recovery efforts are ongoing.”
Beyond targeting energy resources, Russian strikes also seek to cripple Ukraine’s industrial capacity, hampering Kyiv’s efforts to expand domestic arms production. As U.S. military aid declines, Ukraine’s reliance on homegrown military manufacturing has increased. Currently, Ukrainian arms manufacturers supply approximately 40% of the equipment used by frontline soldiers.
Ukraine does not disclose successful strikes on Russian military targets. However, Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy chief of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, acknowledged that Russia is prioritizing attacks on Ukraine’s defense industry, including arms and drone production sites.
U.S. Policy and Its Impact on Ukraine
The Trump administration has ramped up pressure on Kyiv while simultaneously fostering closer ties with the Kremlin. Ukrainian officials and Western analysts argue that this policy shift will not lead to peace but will instead embolden Russia, which insists on dictating the terms for ending the conflict.
“These Trump administration policies are weakening U.S. leverage and making it harder to negotiate a peace deal that serves the interests of Ukraine, the United States, and Europe,” the ISW stated, echoing concerns from Ukraine’s European allies.
Senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials are set to meet next week in Saudi Arabia to explore potential avenues for ending the war.
Devastation Across Ukrainian Cities
The latest Russian assault heavily impacted multiple cities. In the southern port city of Odessa, strikes were reported for the fourth consecutive night, according to the Ukrainian energy company DTEK.
In Kharkiv, located just 25 miles from the Russian border, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported ongoing search and rescue efforts after strikes targeted critical infrastructure. One missile hit an apartment building, injuring at least eight people.
“Rescuers pulled a woman from the rubble—she is alive and being examined by doctors,” Terekhov stated. “Search and rescue operations continue.”
As Ukraine braces for further attacks, its ability to defend against Russia’s aerial assaults will largely depend on its own military production capabilities and the continued support of Western allies.
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