Russia conducted a mass aerial attack on Ukraine this morning, Dec 13, with cruise missiles and drones, focusing attacks on energy infrastructure, particularly along its western border regions. Attacks on Ukraine’s electrical power grid are part of a renewed assault, which has already extended hours of power cuts to millions of civilians.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia used 93 missiles and more than 200 drones in the attack, adding that Ukrainian forces successfully intercepted 81 of the rockets, with 11 shot down by F-16 fighter jets. Ukraine’s air force also reported that the attack included hypersonic Kinzhal missiles launched from the air.
According to Zelensky, “This is Putin’s ‘peace plan’ – destroy everything. This is how he wants negotiations, by terrorizing millions of people,” Zelensky commented in response to the strikes.
The Ukrainian energy minister praised energy workers’ efforts and said they were doing everything possible to “minimize negative consequences for the energy system.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for urgent international support, writing on X: “Russia aims to deprive us of energy. Instead, we must deprive it of the means of terror. I reiterate my call for the urgent delivery of 20 NASAMS, HAWK, or IRIS-T air defense systems.”
The Russian defense ministry confirmed the attack, saying it was a response to Ukraine’s use of US-supplied ATACMS missiles against a southern Russian airfield earlier in the week.
“In response to the use of American long-range weapons, a massive strike was carried out by the Russian armed forces. Against critical facilities of Ukraine’s fuel and energy infrastructure,” read a statement on Telegram.
