Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov reported to Vladimir Putin on the progress of military operations and confirmed that the Russian military continues and intends to increase strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The statement was made during the Russian president's visit to the auxiliary command post of the Joint Group of Forces, as reported by RIA Novosti and cited by RBC-Ukraine.
Briefing at the Group Command Post
According to Russian media, Putin personally visited the auxiliary command post of the Joint Group of Forces, where Gerasimov presented a briefing on current operations. During the report, the Chief of the General Staff stated that the Russian military "continues to strike enterprises of Ukraine's military-industrial complex" and that energy infrastructure facilities are included in the strike plans. In footage released in connection with the visit, Gerasimov is shown in uniform with insignia and medals, sitting at a table with a microphone in a wood-paneled hall.
Moscow's "Retaliatory" Rhetoric
In the Kremlin and the General Staff, strikes on Ukraine's civilian energy sector are presented as a "response" to attacks by the "Kyiv authorities" on Russian industrial and military-industrial enterprises. At the same time, as RBC-Ukraine notes, the Russian side virtually did not stop shelling Ukraine's civilian infrastructure even during periods that in public discourse were designated as an "energy truce" announced by US President Donald Trump. Thus, the formulation of "retaliatory measures" does not correspond to the actual dynamics of the strikes carried out throughout the conflict.
Strikes on Energy Facilities on the Morning of October 16
On the morning of October 16, Russia launched a series of strikes on Ukraine's energy facilities. According to RBC-Ukraine, damage was recorded in Kyiv and five oblasts as a result of the attacks. This confirms that Gerasimov's statements about continuing strikes on the energy sector are not just rhetoric, but reflect the current combat mission assigned to the group of forces.
A Week of Attacks on Kyiv's Thermal Power Plants
This week, according to Ukrainian media, during a massive shelling, Russian forces struck all three of Kyiv's thermal power plants at once. Such a concentration of strikes on key generation facilities in the capital indicates a deliberate strategy to disable the city's energy potential. The combination of attacks over the week forms a picture of systematic pressure on the energy system rather than a one-time "retaliatory" strike.
Strategic Bridges Among Priority Targets
Separately, Gerasimov reported that Russian military plans include strikes on bridges of strategic importance on the territory of Ukraine. This expansion of the target list goes beyond exclusively energy infrastructure and affects transport arteries, which could complicate logistics and life support in frontline regions.
