A massive blow to the Ukrainian infrastructure has led to large-scale power outages
Strikes on the infrastructure of Ukraine in response to the Taganrog attack by American long-range ATACMS missiles took two days to prepare, because it was necessary to conduct additional reconnaissance of targets and deplete the enemy's air defense system, military experts interviewed by Izvestia believe. So, after a massive strike by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on December 13, power outages began in western Ukraine and the enemy requested electricity imports from five neighboring countries. Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and the Russian Defense Ministry announced the inevitability of a response to the attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. How the massive fire attack took place and what its consequences are — in the material of Izvestia.
Consequences of the attack of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on the energy sector of Ukraine
The Russian Armed Forces inflicted a massive blow on critically important facilities of the fuel and energy infrastructure of Ukraine, ensuring the operation of the military-industrial complex, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on December 13. This was in response to an attack by six American ATACMS missiles on a military airfield near the city of Taganrog.
— In response to the use of American long-range weapons by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, a massive strike was carried out with high-precision long-range air and sea-based weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles on critically important objects of the fuel and energy infrastructure of Ukraine, ensuring the operation of the military-industrial complex. The target of the strike has been achieved. All objects have been hit," the military department said in a statement.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported on the AFU strike on a military airfield in Taganrog on December 11. Then two missiles were shot down with the help of the Pantsir missile defense system, four more were diverted from the course of electronic warfare. When the debris fell, there were casualties among the personnel, two buildings on the technical territory of the airfield and three military vehicles were cut by fragments.
President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky said that today was one of the largest strikes on the country's energy sector. An air alert was declared throughout the territory. There were reports of numerous explosions in Odessa, Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk and Cherkasy regions. In addition, explosions occurred in Kiev, Kremenchuk, Kharkiv, as well as in Kiev, Lviv, Ternopil, Kharkiv and Khmelnitsky regions.
Energy Minister German Galushchenko said that the energy system of the whole of Ukraine is under threat, three queues of blackouts were introduced. Currently, electricity imports of more than 13.4 MWh have been requested from five neighboring countries (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova) after a massive blow to the energy infrastructure, Ukrenergo said in a statement.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that after the attack, five of the nine operating power units in Ukraine reduced capacity.
According to the statement of the Polish military command, fighter jets on duty were raised and ground-based air defense systems were activated due to Russian strikes on targets in Ukraine.
Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned of the inevitability of a response to the attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine with ATACMS missiles on Taganrog.
— I want to remind you of the absolutely unambiguous and direct statement of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, which was made yesterday, where it was clearly stated that an answer would follow. The answer, of course, will follow then and in the way that is deemed appropriate, but it will certainly follow," the presidential press secretary said at a briefing on December 12.
How did the attack go?
In the early morning, Geran UAVs, about 150 pieces, went en masse in order to suppress the enemy's air defense system, and then missiles came from different sides. Military expert Vasily Dandykin told Izvestia about this.
"A combined massive strike is the use of about 100 cruise and ballistic missiles," he explained. — I think, as in previous times, ours used "Calibers", "Iskanders" and "Daggers". The main task was to hit the energy sector of western Ukraine (thermal power plants, hydroelectric power plants, substations) and airfields where missile—carrying aircraft are based. The enemy has already confirmed that our fighters have successfully coped with this.
According to the expert, so far "Hazel" has not been used, but it is not a fact that this will not happen in the future.
— Immediately after our strikes in western Ukraine, power outages became more frequent, — military expert Vladislav Shurygin told Izvestia. — It is known that all nuclear power plants have reduced their power generation capacity. So, they hit the energy infrastructure. It can probably be said that the main blow fell on the electric power industry and Ukrainian ports. The attack took place in several stages. First, our drones came into play, which clarified where the enemy's air defenses were located and forced them to waste ammunition. Then the rockets came into play.
According to him, the strikes on infrastructure in response to the Taganrog attack by American long-range missiles were not prepared for two days by chance.
"The goals have been set for a long time," he explained. — After the decision on the strike is made, additional reconnaissance is carried out, the air defense positions are clarified, and then combat work follows.
How has Russia previously reacted to attacks on its territory
The response to the attacks on Russian territory by American missiles was the test of a new ballistic missile "Oreshnik". The Southern Machine-Building Plant (Yuzhmash) in Dnepropetrovsk was hit by it, the rocket itself was launched from the territory of the Kapustin Yar test site in the Astrakhan region, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on November 21.
He emphasized that all modern air defense systems available in the world and missile defense systems being created in Europe do not intercept such missiles.
According to the head of state, tests of the Oreshnik ballistic missile will continue: the General Staff and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation are selecting targets for the new system on the territory of Ukraine.
On November 28, the Russian Armed Forces launched a comprehensive strike with 90 missiles and 100 drones. At that time, 12 military facilities on the territory of Ukraine were hit, Vladimir Putin said at the CSTO summit in Astana on November 28.
He urged Russia's opponents not to forget that it has hypersonic missiles and other weapons that have no analogues in the world, such as the Kalibr cruise missile and Kinzhal hypersonic missile systems.
Julia Leonova
