Power Plays And Payback: Russia Strikes Back Amid Rising Tensions

Russia’s latest overnight assault on Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure was a direct response to strikes on Russian territory using US-made ATACMS missiles, President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday.

Speaking at a security summit in Kazakhstan, Putin claimed Russia had targeted 17 sites, describing them as “military facilities, defense industry installations, and their support systems.” However, he made no mention of the widespread damage to Ukraine’s power grid. “As I have said many times, there will always be a response from our side (to the use of American ATACMS),” Putin emphasized.

Energy Crisis Deepens

The attack plunged over a million Ukrainian households into darkness, marking Russia’s 11th large-scale strike on Ukraine’s energy grid this year. Rolling blackouts, a grim routine for Ukrainians, have intensified as the war stretches into a third brutal winter.

Ukraine’s Energy Minister, German Halushchenko, described the assault as a “massive enemy attack” that targeted multiple regions. Emergency power outages were imposed in western areas, including Lviv, Volyn, and Rivne, before transitioning to scheduled hourly cuts.

The toll extended beyond infrastructure. At least five people were injured in various regions, including central Vinnytsia, southern Odesa, and the capital, Kyiv. In Kharkiv, a missile struck a civilian business, officials reported.

Nationwide Alarm

Air raid sirens blared for over nine hours across Ukraine, forcing residents to take refuge in metro stations. Air defenses were activated, with damage reported in 14 regions. In Kyiv, while no casualties were immediately reported, the psychological toll was evident.

“Our mornings begin with checking the phone to see if there is an air alert,” said Kyiv resident Olha Vaynrikh, 32. “We are indeed fed up with all of it.”

The barrage left lasting impressions. Valeriy Dorotiy, from Lutsk in the Volyn region, recalled hearing three explosions before losing power. “I thought attacks like this wouldn’t reach us. But it did.”

Record Attacks and Rising Threats

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that the onslaught involved about 100 drones and more than 90 missiles. This follows a record-breaking attack earlier in the week when Russia launched 188 drones, causing severe damage to critical infrastructure in western Ukraine.

Zelensky reiterated the urgent need for enhanced air defense systems. “Every attack like this proves that air defense systems are needed in Ukraine now, where they save lives, not at storage bases,” he urged allies.

Meanwhile, Putin hinted at the continued use of Russia’s new medium-range ballistic missile, ‘Oreshnik,’ which was recently deployed in Ukraine’s Dnipro region. He warned of potential strikes on “military facilities, defense enterprises, or decision-making centers in Kyiv” as part of Russia’s retaliatory strategy.

A Winter of Woes

As Ukrainians brace for harsher winters and escalating attacks, the resilience of the nation is being tested. “Every winter is getting harder,” said Roman Turiy from Ivano-Frankivsk, as he faced extended power outages.

The war's bitter cycle of attacks and counterattacks leaves millions trapped in uncertainty, with survival hanging on the hope of bolstered defenses and a long-awaited path to peace.