Ukraine strikes Russia’s energy system primarily to cut off heat and electricity to military facilities, says Dmytro Zhmailo, director of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation, as per Kyiv 24. This region is where Russia launches a large number of ballistic missiles toward Kyiv.
Kyiv residents often cannot even reach shelters when the occupiers launch ballistic missiles from Bryansk Oblast, as flight times are measured in minutes. In recent attacks, this region has launched a significant portion of the ballistic strikes targeting the Ukrainian capital.
On 16 February, Alexander Bogomaz, the Bryansk governor, reported that the region had experienced the most powerful and widespread attack of any region in Russia, according to local sources.
According to him, fire groups from the BARS – Bryansk brigade and Rosgvardiya special units destroyed 229 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over Bryansk Oblast. Energy infrastructure facilities were also damaged.
Ukraine strikes Russia’s energy system to only deter missile threats
“Launching this many UAVs in a single day has never happened in any Russian region,” Bogomaz said.
Zhmailo explains that Bryansk and also Belgorod were chosen because Russian army units are based there, including the Sevri group, responsible for the Russian-Ukrainian border from Chernihiv Oblast to the northern front line of Kharkiv Oblast near Vovchansk and Lyptsi.
“Their bases and command posts are there, so the flight time of our drones and missile systems is relatively short,” the expert says.
He adds that Russia now has far fewer air defense systems, which are spread across its territory, with the largest concentration along the border and the front line.
“Therefore, Ukraine first needs to create a ‘hole’ to reach the border regions,” Zhmailo explains.
The fact that Russian civilians are left without electricity or heating is a secondary effect.
“This is not the primary goal for the Ukrainian army. However, these are the consequences, and Russian citizens need to feel the full burden of the war,” he says.
War under the cover of negotiations: Russia prepares a new massive strike
At the same time, Russia has many times launched over 500 drones at Ukraine, even during “peace talks.” These targeted not military sites but residential buildings and critical infrastructure.
On 16 February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Russia is planning a massive missile and drone strike, with Moscow moving aircraft closer to the border.
