Russia Bombs Power Grid Up to Western Ukraine... NATO Allies Near Border Alarmed

120 Missiles and 90 Suicide Drones Strike Across Kyiv and Other Areas
"Unprecedented Infrastructure Attack"... Poland Scrambles Fighter Jets Over National Airspace

Russia launched another large-scale airstrike on power facilities across Ukraine ahead of the midwinter season, when energy demand surges due to the cold. As Ukraine's western region, the eastern frontline of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), was hit, Poland, a NATO ally, became so tense that it scrambled fighter jets within its own airspace.

Facility destroyed by Russian attack in Lviv, western Ukraine Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to major foreign media, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on the 17th (local time) that Russia carried out a large-scale attack using about 120 missiles and approximately 90 drones. President Zelenskyy said, "The enemy's target was energy facilities across Ukraine," adding, "Unfortunately, these facilities were damaged due to the airstrikes and falling debris." Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko also stated via a Telegram message on the same day that a large-scale attack on the power system was underway, reporting, "The enemy is attacking power generation and transmission facilities across Ukraine."

The attacks took place across Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, as well as the northern and southern regions. In Kyiv, debris fell on residential buildings, causing fires and injuring at least two people, according to city officials via Telegram. In northwestern Volyn, energy facilities were reported to have been damaged. In southern Mykolaiv, two people were reported dead overnight due to drone attacks. The eastern frontline areas near Zaporizhzhia and southern Odesa were also bombed, and multiple explosions were reported in central Kryvyi Rih, Rivne, and western Lviv.

Notably, Poland dispatched air force fighter jets in response to Russia's attacks on the same day. However, the fighter jets remained within Polish airspace. The Polish Operational Command posted on X (formerly Twitter) that in response to Russia's large-scale attacks targeting western Ukraine and other areas, "all available personnel and resources were mobilized," adding, "fighter jet squadrons on standby were scrambled, and ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems were placed on the highest alert." They explained that this response was "intended to ensure the safety of areas close to the threatened locations" and was a precautionary measure against potential threats, not an intervention in the Russia-Ukraine war.

The Polish Operational Command stated that Russia's recent airstrikes on Ukraine involved cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drones (armed unmanned aerial vehicles). Poland, a NATO ally bordering western Ukraine, has shown sensitive reactions whenever Russia has conducted airstrikes deep inside Ukrainian territory beyond the frontline.

Since the invasion in February 2022, Russia has focused on destroying Ukraine's power facilities. This has been seen as a psychological warfare tactic aimed at undermining the Ukrainian people by causing blackouts and heating difficulties. Previously, in August, Russia also launched an airstrike involving more than 200 missiles and drones across Ukraine, severely damaging energy infrastructure. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Syvukha criticized, "Russia carried out one of the largest airstrikes targeting peaceful cities, sleeping civilians, and critical infrastructure."