The radio engineering unit of the Ukrainian Air Force detected 287 Russian air attacks between December 12 and 13. 94 missiles and 193 unmanned aerial vehicles were used. The affected areas were Kiev, Odessa, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, Ivanofrankivsk, Lviv and Ternopil.
Most of the occupiers' actions are targeted at energy infrastructure facilities and, as ISW argues in its analysis, are not without reason.
War in Ukraine. Moscow is putting pressure on Kyiv and the West
Researchers say Russia is trying to “freeze” Ukraine by blocking its supply of thermal energy. The strategy aims to influence authorities in Kiev and Ukraine's Western allies to force concessions on Russian policy.
Ukrainian energy operator DTEK reported that one of the Russian attacks caused significant damage to a thermal power plant (TPP). The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that the Russian government's measures have reduced the power of five of the nine nuclear reactors in territory controlled by the Ukrainian authorities.
Prolonged power outages have been reported in large parts of Ukraine following indiscriminate shelling over the past two days.
The attacks on December 12 and 13 were not the first to target Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Previously, among others, the Russians carried out them. November 16th and 17th or 25th and 26th. However, this time its intensity has increased significantly.
ISW: Russian infrastructure attack is part of a larger plan
As ISW analysts have pointed out, Russia's actions in recent days have another purpose. Russia's Ministry of Defense issued a statement saying the firing was carried out in response to the use of ATACMS missile systems provided by Western countries in the attack on Taganrog in Rostov Oblast.
However, there are many indications that this narrative was only intended to reassure a section of Russian society that was calling for a decisive response to the events of December 11th.
ISW researchers say the Kremlin has likely been planning this attack for a long time as part of a larger strategy. Therefore, the attack was carried out regardless of Ukrainian actions in the Rostov Oblast.
Source: Pravda of Ukraine
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