Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal stated that during the autumn period, Russia moved to a comprehensive strategy of destroying the Ukrainian energy system, significantly changing its strike tactics. According to the Prime Minister, the pace of repair work is directly affected by the intensity of enemy attacks, which he assesses as remaining high and systematic.
New tactics: turbojet drones and AI
"This autumn, the enemy shifted to a comprehensive strategy of destroying the Ukrainian energy system, significantly changing its tactics. The enemy is massively using turbojet-powered drones in target-seeking mode, utilizing MESH networks and AI, which increases strike precision," Shmyhal noted. Media reports indicate that the Ukrainian energy company Ukrenergo has also confirmed the change in tactics, pointing to mass damage to power transmission tower supports and the severing of lines themselves.
Under attack: key facilities and entire regions
According to the Prime Minister, the primary targets of attacks have been key substations, switchgear, power lines, thermal and hydroelectric power plants, combined heat and power plants (CHPs), and oil and gas infrastructure. He stated that the situation with electricity remains particularly difficult in Kyiv and Dnipro, where restoration work is being carried out around the clock. Previously, it was reported that Russia struck a critical substation supporting the Khmelnytskyi NPP, which, according to Shmyhal, creates nuclear safety risks.
Response measures: additional teams and distributed generation
To assist with recovery, the Prime Minister said that additional teams of power engineers have already been formed. In parallel, the resilience of communities is being strengthened through the development and deployment of already installed distributed generation. Furthermore, the coordination of Kyiv's contact centers, distribution system operators, and the Government Contact Center has been aligned to process citizen requests and complaints faster and more effectively.
Wider context: economic strikes and negotiation leverage
Serhiy Koretskyi previously reported at the Kyiv International Economic Forum that 2,147 attacks had been carried out on the energy sector since July 16, with losses exceeding $7.7 billion. According to him, Russia has changed its tactics and strategy by intensifying strikes on the economy to deplete the financial system and psychologically break citizens, aiming to make Kyiv more compliant in the negotiation process. At the same time, Ukrainian authorities claim that the Russian Federation intends to disable energy infrastructure and orchestrate a large-scale humanitarian crisis, choosing Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa as its main targets.
