Captured documents: Russia wants to make life in Ukrainian cities impossible

On the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, Russian strikes were to cover three large energy facilities in the Kiev region, including thermal power plants and a thermal power plant in Trypili. Also targeted was an important transmission station that transports energy from two Ukrainian nuclear power plants to the capital.

The attacks also affected elements of the so-called Kiev's energy ring - a network of stations thanks to which electricity from other parts of the country is supplied to the city. Kiev, with a population of about 3 million, is already experiencing periodic power outages and water supply problems.

On the night from Friday to Saturday, Russian troops attacked again on a massive scale. According to Volodymyr Zelensky, it was "one of the largest attacks" against the Ukrainian energy system. Russia was to use hundreds of drones and missiles in a coordinated strike.

The President of Ukraine announced that over 15 important facilities generating and transmitting electricity were attacked.

"Russia is trying to cause a power outage in Ukraine just before winter. Russia is trying to leave millions of our citizens without electricity and heating," Zelensky emphasized.

Captured document

The Guardian reported that Ukrainian intelligence allegedly intercepted a document describing vulnerable elements of Ukraine's energy, water and heating systems. According to the newspaper, the document was supposed to indicate what means of destruction could be used to destroy key infrastructure.

Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal previously said that the authorities knew the assumptions of the plan and expected further actions by Russia. The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine does not disclose details about the scale of damage, arguing that it could help the aggressor plan further attacks.

"There are two long documents, written very coldly and very clearly, with tables showing the number of weapons needed to destroy each object. The types of weapons include ballistic missiles, jet drones and conventional ones. We understand how they will work," Shmyhal recently reported.

The main goal of implementing the Russian plan, which was communicated to Kiev's European allies, will be to destroy the energy, heating, water and sewage systems in such a way as to make life in Ukrainian cities impossible.

Energy is the front line

The website "Ekonomiczna Pravda" reported that after the recent attacks, three main power plants in Kiev are no longer able to produce energy. This means that the city is more dependent on supplies from other regions of Ukraine.

According to experts quoted by the media, with a moderate winter and efficient repairs, Kiev residents may face power outages lasting up to eight hours a day. In the worst-case scenario - during severe frosts and further Russian attacks - outages could last up to 20 hours a day.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukrainian critical infrastructure. The current campaign takes place at a time when fighting on many sections of the front is of a positional nature.

Ukrainian analysts quoted by the British daily estimate that the pressure on the energy system is intended to weaken society's resilience and cause a humanitarian crisis in cities. The authorities in Kiev are appealing to allies for additional air defense systems and missiles to use them.