“In Mykolaiv, Ukraine, November 17, 2024, a firefighter is in the thick of a catastrophic scene—another grim chapter in Russia’s ongoing assault on Ukraine, marked by a residential house engulfed in turmoil after a drone strike,” reported via a handout from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, circulated by REUTERS. It’s crucial to comprehend the relentless nature of the conflict to grasp the physical and psychological toll it is taking on the population.
Russia launched a substantial offensive, the fiercest in nearly three months, raining down 120 missiles and 90 drones upon Ukraine on Sunday, resulting in the tragic loss of at least seven lives and inflicting further pain on the nation’s already strained power infrastructure.
Faced with a bitter reality, Ukrainians had been on edge for weeks, bracing for another assault aimed at paralyzing their crucial energy supplies, amid daunting winter forecasts and profound anxiety. This marks almost a thousand days since Russia began its extensive invasion, shaping a prolonged period of hardship and resilience.
The barrage knocked out electricity across multiple regions, coinciding with increasing speculation about Donald Trump’s upcoming presidency in the United States. Trump has pledged to bring an end to the conflict, though details on his strategy remain elusive, sparking conversations about potential diplomatic negotiations.
“Defensive forces valiantly responded to the threat during the night in Kyiv,” remarked locals who described hearing drones over the capital with loud explosions echoing through the city’s core. Residents, adapting to this new way of life, took refuge in metro stations, enveloping themselves in winter wear.
“Our energy system endured severe damage, including impacts on DTEK power stations,” said Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK, fleshing out the narrative of a battered energy infrastructure. He emphasized, “This slams home the pressing need for enhanced air defense support from our allies.”
Assessing the sheer extent of the destruction presents heaps of challenges. In the ongoing struggle against Russian strikes, officials have opted to withhold detailed insights about the status of the power network, a move reflecting security concerns and strategic ambiguity.
Reports confirmed serious blows to key infrastructures, leading to power outages from western territories like Volyn, Rivne, and Lviv, stretching southeast to Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia. Facing the aftermath, DTEK enforced power shutdowns in the southern Odesa region but managed to lift them later in three areas. National grid operator Ukrenergo continues emergency efforts in Odesa, Rivne, and Volyn.
Russia’s defense ministry openly admitted to targeting energy installations crucial to Ukraine’s defense industry, portraying these actions as strategic assaults rather than random violence.
“The adversary’s primary focus was dismantling our energy backbone across Ukraine,” stated President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, shedding light on the broader objectives behind these relentless strikes.
Ukraine remains apprehensive about Western diplomatic maneuvers, fearing their implications. The air force declared success in intercepting 104 out of the 120 missiles, alongside shooting down 42 drones—thumbs up for the defenders. However, 41 objects vanished from radar, adding to the chaos and uncertainty.
The attack claimed at least seven lives across Lviv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Dnipropetrovsk, underscoring the human cost of conflict. Such tragedies extend beyond Ukrainian borders as Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popsoi highlighted violations of their airspace, while Poland, a NATO ally, took precautions by scrambling their air force.
When Russia last executed a large-scale attack on Kyiv on August 26, officials reported over 200 drones and missiles being deployed on Ukrainian soil. With each new attack, Russia heightens the pressure, especially as its forces carve out swift advancements in eastern Ukraine, determined to capture the entire industrial Donbas region.
Amidst the constant threats, Ukrainian troops persist in holding parts of the territory seized in Russia’s Kursk region—a move Kyiv sees as potential leverage for future negotiations.
Sybiha, reflecting a blend of skepticism and realism regarding diplomatic overtures, indicated that the recent bombardment could be Moscow’s genuine retort to global leaders reaching out to President Vladimir Putin. This includes German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s direct call, aimed at urging Russian withdrawal but perceived by Kyiv as reducing Putin’s diplomatic isolation.
Echoing similar concerns, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk commented, “The sheer magnitude of the latest attack illustrates the limitations of diplomatic dialogues, underscoring the necessity for genuine, substantial support from the whole of the West for Ukraine. What unfolds over the coming weeks will be pivotal, reshaping not only this war’s trajectory but our collective future.”
Reported contributions from Pavel Polityuk, Tom Balmforth, and Valentyn Ogirenko in Kyiv, enhanced by inputs from Barbara Erling. The article was crafted by Lidia Kelly and Tom Balmforth with editorial oversight by William Mallard, Frances Kerry, and Kevin Liffey.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
