Ukraine and Russia have intensified their exchange of drone and missile strikes, each aiming to gain the upper hand as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration approaches.
Trump has vowed to bring a swift end to the conflict, but his lack of detailed plans has added uncertainty to a war that is nearing its fourth year following Russia’s full-scale invasion.
On Monday night into Tuesday, Kyiv launched what it described as its “most massive” offensive to date, targeting deep inside Russian territory with drones and missiles. The assault included six US-made long-range ATACMS ballistic missiles, according to statements from Ukrainian and Russian officials.
In November of last year, outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to use American-made longer-range missiles to target Russian territory, a move that Moscow views as a significant escalation in the conflict.
Moscow has warned that the deployment of ATACMs would prompt the launch of Russia’s new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile, “Oreshnik,” which has only been used once before, on November 21.
In its latest strike, the Ukrainian military targeted military and oil facilities, stating that such attacks would persist “until the Russian Federation’s armed aggression against Ukraine is completely stopped.”
Russia launched a heavy bombardment of Ukraine overnight into Wednesday, primarily targeting the country’s already strained energy sector.
Russian Strike Targets Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that over 40 missiles were fired during the attacks, with 30 of them intercepted and destroyed. Additionally, more than 70 Russian attack drones were also involved in the assault.
“Another massive Russian attack. It’s the middle of winter, and the target for the Russians remains the same: our energy sector,” Zelensky said in a Wednesday statement.
“The targets include gas infrastructure and energy facilities that ensure normal life for people.”
