On June 22, 2024, Ukraine suffered a ‘massive’ assault by Russian forces, with over 2400 guided aerial bombs launched since the beginning of the month, targeting the country’s energy infrastructure and civilian areas. The city of Kharkiv was particularly affected, where at least three people were killed and over 50 injured as four guided bombs struck residential buildings. President Volodymyr Zelensky has vehemently condemned the attacks, labeling them as ‘absolutely uncalculated terror’. He has called on international partners to take ‘strong decisions’ to help Ukraine destroy Russian combat aircraft ‘wherever they are’ and has expressed gratitude for the Patriot air defense system delivered by the Netherlands and for the permission granted by the US to strike targets up to 100 kilometers from the border to counter these aggressions. Despite the Ukrainian air defense’s efforts, which successfully intercepted 12 of the 16 missiles and all 13 drones, the attacks have caused rolling blackouts and significant damage to the power grid, forcing Ukraine to impose power cuts and import supplies from the European Union. Zelensky has emphasized the need for additional anti-aircraft defense systems and the acceleration of training for Ukrainian pilots to operate F-16 jets, as well as the increased range of weapons to protect Ukrainian cities and communities from further Russian bombings. The consistent targeting of Ukraine’s energy facilities has resulted in at least two workers being injured, and has left half of the country’s power generation capacity destroyed.
Key points
- Russian forces have launched over 2400 guided aerial bombs against Ukraine since the beginning of June.
- Kharkiv was hit by four guided bombs, resulting in at least three deaths and over 50 injuries.
- Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been heavily targeted, causing rolling blackouts and reduced power generation capacity.
- President Zelensky calls for increased international support, including more anti-aircraft defense systems and expanded military capabilities.
