---
title: "Gerasimov Briefs Putin on the Launch of Massive Strikes on Ukraine's Energy Sector"
description: "Chief of the Russian General Staff Gerasimov briefed Putin on the continuation of massive strikes on Ukraine's energy sector. On the morning of October 16, attacks were recorded in Kyiv and five oblasts; this week, all three of the capital's TPPs were hit."
date: 2026-10-16T16:32:04.037Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/gerasimov-briefs-putin-ukraine-energy-strikes
tags: [russia, ukraine, energy-infrastructure, gerasimov, putin, military, kyiv, war]
author: "Marina Slivenko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Gerasimov Briefs Putin on the Launch of Massive Strikes on Ukraine's Energy Sector

![Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov in military uniform with medals at a meeting](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/16/gerasimov-doklad-putinu-udary-po-energetike-ukrainy/gerasimov-doklad-putinu-udary-po-energetike-ukrainy-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Gerasimov reported to Putin on the continuation of strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure
- On the morning of October 16, energy strikes were recorded in Kyiv and five oblasts
- This week, all three Kyiv TPPs were hit
- Strategic bridges are included in the strike plans
- Moscow frames the attacks as a "response" to strikes on Russian defense industry enterprises

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.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Герасимов отчитался Путину о "начале" массированных ударов по энергетике Украины](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/gerasimov-prozvituvav-putinu-pochatok-masovanih-1792167966.html) - Single source. Gerasimov's statement was transmitted via RIA Novosti. The October 16 energy strikes in Kyiv and 5 oblasts were confirmed in the same material. The context regarding Kyiv's three TPPs also comes from the same source. There is no independent second source in the dataset.

## FAQ

### Who made the statement about strikes on Ukraine's energy sector and when?

Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov reported to Vladimir Putin during the president's visit to the auxiliary command post of the Joint Group of Forces. This was reported by RIA Novosti.

### What specific facilities were hit on October 16?

According to RBC-Ukraine, on the morning of October 16, strikes hit energy facilities in Kyiv and five oblasts. This week, during a massive shelling, all three Kyiv TPPs were hit.

### Why does Russia call the strikes "retaliatory"?

The Russian General Staff frames strikes on Ukraine's energy sector as a response to attacks by the "Kyiv authorities" on Russian industrial and military-industrial enterprises. At the same time, according to Ukrainian media, shelling of Ukraine's civilian infrastructure did not stop even during periods of a declared "energy truce".

### What else is included in the strike plans besides energy?

Gerasimov also reported that the plans include strikes on strategic bridges in Ukraine, as well as on military-industrial complex enterprises.