KYIV, November 19 — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Russia would face a response after a large-scale overnight attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, saying Moscow had “no other choice” but to continue its campaign of winter strikes. The assault came as Ukraine marked 1,000 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began on February 24, 2022. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the attack involved around 120 missiles and 90 drones aimed at energy facilities across the country.
Air defenses intercepted a portion of the incoming projectiles, but several regions reported damage and emergency power outages.
A familiar winter pattern
Against this backdrop, the strikes followed a pattern from the previous winter, when Russia repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing widespread blackouts and leaving millions without heat and electricity. In the winter of 2022-2023, Russia launched hundreds of missiles and drones at power plants and substations, leading to rolling blackouts across Ukraine. Ukraine’s energy operator, Ukrenergo, introduced emergency shutdowns in multiple regions after the November 19 attack.
Zelenskyy said in his nightly address that Russia was trying to destroy Ukraine’s power grid and that Ukraine would not allow it. The United States and other Western allies have provided air defense systems, including Patriot batteries, to help Ukraine protect its skies.
Ukrainian officials have consistently called for more systems and ammunition.
One thousand days of war
The 1,000-day milestone highlights the duration of the conflict, which has become Europe’s largest land war since World War II. The war has killed and wounded hundreds of thousands of soldiers on both sides, though exact casualty figures are not publicly available. Millions of Ukrainians have been displaced internally and abroad, and the United Nations has documented widespread human rights abuses.
The international community has condemned Russia’s attacks on civilian infrastructure, with the European Union and NATO calling them war crimes. Russia denies targeting civilians, claiming it strikes only military-related targets.
Ukraine’s energy grid has been damaged but not destroyed, and repair crews have worked to restore power. Zelenskyy has urged Ukrainians to remain resilient and has thanked allies for their support. The coming winter is expected to be another difficult period, with Russia likely to continue targeting critical infrastructure.
The war continues with no clear end in sight, as both sides seek to gain advantage on the battlefield and in diplomatic talks.
