Reports from Ukrainian military and international defense analysts

Russia Fires Over 200 Missiles and Drones in Massive Attack on Ukraine's Energy Grid

Nov 17, 2024, 05:28 AM

On Sunday, November 17, Russia launched one of the largest missile and drone attacks on Ukraine since August, targeting energy infrastructure across multiple regions, including Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, and others. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, approximately 120 missiles and 90 drones, including Shahed-136 kamikaze drones, were launched by Russian forces. Ukraine's air defense systems, including F-16 aircraft, intercepted and destroyed many of the incoming missiles and drones, with the Ukrainian Air Force reporting that 53 out of 83 drones were shot down and another 30 neutralized using electronic warfare. Despite these efforts, some missiles and drones reached their targets, causing serious damage to thermal power plants and transmission facilities, leading to emergency power outages in Kyiv, Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Casualties were reported in the city of Mykolaiv, where at least two people were killed and six injured, including two children. Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko confirmed that the attacks severely damaged Ukraine's power grid. Reports also indicate that Russia has been using decoy drones, including thermobaric drones, as part of 'Operation False Target' to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses. The attacks involved various types of missiles, such as cruise, ballistic, and aeroballistic missiles, including Zirkons, Iskanders, and Kinzhals.