Putin Threatens Kyiv Leaders Amid Escalation in Energy Grid Strikes

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of potential attacks on Ukrainian decision-making centers in Kyiv using Russia’s new ballistic missile, Oreshnik. This announcement followed a massive overnight assault on Ukraine’s energy grid, which left over one million people without power. The strike, which Putin described as a response to Ukraine’s use of US-supplied Atacms missiles on Russian soil, marks the second comprehensive attack of its kind this month.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the escalation, warning of a “tough response” to what he called Russian blackmail. He emphasized that the use of cluster munitions against civilians and energy infrastructure significantly hampered rescue and repair efforts.

The attack, involving waves of 90 missiles and 100 drones, targeted multiple cities, including Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Lutsk. Ukrainian authorities claimed all missiles aimed at Kyiv were intercepted. Despite this, emergency power outages were implemented across at least 12 regions, with the hardest-hit areas including Lviv, Rivne, and Kherson. Lviv alone reported over 500,000 homes and businesses without power, while Kherson officials warned of prolonged outages.

Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko noted that the grid faced its eleventh major attack since March, with thermal energy plants suffering extensive damage. Ukrainian authorities have implemented preemptive power cuts to minimize further strain on the grid as the country braces for winter.

The Oreshnik missile, described by Putin as “uninterceptable,” was reportedly deployed in this attack. US officials believe Russia possesses only a small experimental stockpile of these missiles, limiting their current impact.

Zelensky claimed Putin was trying to force the US to agree to Russia’s terms, saying the situation shows that the Kremlin is not interested in ending the war. He revisited the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, emphasizing Ukraine’s vulnerability once it gave up its nuclear weapons.

The ongoing energy strikes come as temperatures in Ukraine begin to drop, raising fears of another harsh winter compounded by power outages. Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, reported significant damage to its thermal plants and stated that its facilities have been attacked over 190 times since the war began.

International aid, including €107 million from the European Commission and the US, has been directed toward restoring Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. However, with Russia stockpiling missiles and preparing for further attacks, Ukrainians face an uncertain and challenging winter.

Putin’s threats and the latest escalation mark a troubling phase in the conflict, as Ukraine continues to resist aggression while appealing for greater international support.