In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russia launched a large-scale assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on June 22, 2024, employing a combination of missiles and drones in a night-time offensive. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that 25 aerial targets, including 12 missiles and 13 drones, were shot down as they attempted to defend critical infrastructure across several regions.Despite the Ukrainian air defense’s efforts to thwart the attack, the offensive resulted in injuries to two energy sector workers and inflicted damage to facilities in the Zaporizhzhia and Lviv regions, among other areas. The Russian military utilized various launch platforms, including Tu-95 MS strategic aircraft, and launched different types of missiles, such as Kh-101/555 cruise missiles, Iskander-K cruise missiles, and Kalibr cruise missiles, as well as Shahed-131/136 drones.The attacks have caused widespread disruptions, with power outages and damages to buildings, including a kindergarten in Ivano-Frankivsk and several buildings in the Rivne region. Ukrainian authorities, including Lviv Regional Governor Maxim Kozytskyi and Air Force Commander Nikolai Oleschuk, have confirmed the extent of the damage and the air defense forces’ response. President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for urgent assistance from Western partners to help rebuild Ukraine’s electrical network and to provide more anti-aircraft equipment to counter Russian bombardments.
Key points
- Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, resulting in injuries and damage.
- Ukrainian air defense intercepted 25 aerial targets, including missiles and drones.
- The attack caused widespread power outages and damage to civilian structures.
