The Kremlin has ordered military commanders to abandon the rules of war and launch over a thousand missiles against civilian energy infrastructure in Ukraine, threatening a severe humanitarian crisis before winter, ansa.it reported. The planned campaign aims to paralyze the nation’s power grid, heating systems, and water supplies while cutting off the three operational nuclear power plants from the distribution network.
Moscow has intensified daylight drone strikes against critical transport links, targeting the Pivdennyi southern bridge in Kyiv and disrupting urban transit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia wants residents to flee the capital, mirroring objectives from the start of the full-scale invasion. Recent nocturnal missile and drone barrages have struck a 25-story concrete building, leaving portions of the city without power and water as communities brace for sub-zero temperatures.
Missile and Drone Campaign Targets Ukraine Power Grid
The New York Times reported that Russia is preparing its most powerful aerial offensive to date against Ukraine’s energy sector. The strategy involves launching up to 1,000 missiles aimed at power plants, substations, and water facilities. Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal presented a defensive counter-measure document to European allies in Paris to prepare for potential widespread outages. Olena Pavlenko, head of the DiXi Group energy study center, compared facing another winter with such a weakened grid to “running a marathon with only one lung.”
Corriere della Sera reported that Moscow deployed a specialized jet-powered drone equipped with a hollow-charge cutting warhead known as Krsn during recent assaults. General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of military intelligence, had previously noted on August 18, 2026, that Russia was using specialized attack drones with explosives in the wings capable of cutting metal. The Ukrainian air defense system intercepted 254 drones out of 285 between 6:30 and 18:30 local time, including 146 of the 174 jet-powered drones used.
Il Post noted that a significant portion of Russia’s drone supply originates from the Alabuga industrial park in Tatarstan, where production rates have scaled dramatically since the facility’s military conversion. Ukrainian military intelligence estimates three thousand Geran-type drones roll off production lines monthly, utilizing long-range flight capabilities to strike civilian infrastructure. The Wall Street Journal reported in May 2024 that Russian goals were to produce 6,000 drones per year.
Ukrainian brigades deploy interceptor quadcopters to shoot down drones
Valigia Blu reported that Ukrainian mobile defense teams, including units from the 127th Heavy Mechanized Brigade—formed in 2022 as a Territorial Defense brigade and later named “Kharkivska” in 2025—utilize electronic detectors and interceptor quadcopters to shoot down incoming unmanned aerial vehicles. Soldiers use the Sting, a bullet-shaped quadcopter that ascends rapidly toward targets, or the Taras-P, a slower catapult-launched aircraft with long endurance. Soldiers note a shift from piston-driven Shahed models to faster jet-powered variants that fly at higher velocities during straight approaches, reaching speeds over 450 kilometers per hour compared to roughly 300 kilometers per hour for Ukrainian interceptors.
HuffPost Italia detailed the operational impact on civilian institutions, noting that an incoming strike narrowly missed a school housing 104 students and 60 teachers who reached a basement bunker seconds before impact. The Ministry of Education has recorded over 4,700 attacks against school complexes since February 2022, while the World Health Organization has verified damage to more than 3,000 medical facilities across the country. Raid targets have expanded to include data centers, telecommunication hubs, and research centers, such as the National Academy of Sciences, which was hit last Monday.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Escalation
How many missiles is Russia reportedly preparing to launch against Ukraine?
According to reports cited by the New York Times, Moscow is preparing a campaign utilizing up to 1,000 missiles targeting electrical grids, water supplies, and nuclear power plant substations.
What new weapon has the Russian military introduced in recent raids?
Corriere della Sera reported the first operational deployment of a jet-powered drone featuring a Krsn hollow-charge cutting warhead designed to destroy high-voltage power lines and metal bridge structures.
Where are the majority of Russia’s long-range attack drones manufactured?
Il Post reported that mass production occurs at the Alabuga industrial facility located in the Tatarstan region, producing thousands of Geran-type airframes per month.
What specific civilian infrastructure is most at risk during the upcoming months?
Official assessments indicate that power generation plants, water treatment facilities, district heating networks, and nuclear power distribution substations remain the primary targets of the ongoing campaign.
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