Russia Intensifies Attacks on Ukraine’s Power Grid, Expresses Concern Over Potential U.S. Tomahawk Missiles
Russia launched overnight attacks targeting Ukraine’s power grid, continuing a campaign to weaken the country’s energy infrastructure ahead of winter, while simultaneously voicing “extreme concern” regarding the possibility of the United States supplying Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.
According to Kyiv regional Gov. Mykola Kalashnyk, two employees of DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, were injured in strikes on a substation. Ukraine’s Energy Ministry reported that infrastructure in the Donetsk, Odesa, and Chernihiv regions was also targeted. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on X that Russia has launched “more than 3,100 drones, 92 missiles, and around 1,360 glide bombs” in the past week, describing the attacks as “aerial terror.” Zelenskyy also called for increased sanctions on buyers of Russian oil, stating that such measures “must all remain on the table,” and noted a “very productive” phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump focused on strengthening Ukraine’s air defense and long-range capabilities.
Following a previous conversation on Saturday, Zelenskyy indicated that he and Trump discussed these topics further. When asked on Fox News Channel’s “The Sunday Briefing” if Trump had approved the provision of Tomahawks, Zelenskyy responded, “We work on it… Of course we count on such decisions, but we will see.” He also revealed ongoing discussions with U.S. officials regarding potential long-range precision weapons, including Tomahawks and additional ATACMS missiles. The potential delivery of advanced weaponry to Ukraine is a significant development as the conflict enters its fourth year. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed “extreme concern” over the potential Tomahawk supply, while Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, suggested the U.S. may not follow through with the delivery.
These attacks come after strikes on Friday wounded at least 20 people in Kyiv and caused widespread blackouts, which Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko described as “one of the largest concentrated strikes” against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting or jamming 103 of 118 Russian drones overnight, while Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have downed 32 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory. A senior Ukrainian delegation is scheduled to visit the U.S. this week to continue discussions on aid and security assistance; you can find more information about the ongoing conflict here.
Officials say further discussions are expected this week as the Ukrainian delegation arrives in the United States.
