The Russian Ministry of Defence has announced that it is preparing large-scale strikes against Ukraine’s energy sector

The Russian Ministry of Defence has announced that it is preparing new large-scale strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure. The Russian ministry claims that the attacks will allegedly be in response to strikes on Russian infrastructure. This is stated in a press release from the Russian Ministry of Defence published on 30 August 2026.

The Russian ministry stated that its military had “begun preparations for large-scale strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure”. However, the statement did not specify the exact timing, the number of missiles and drones, or the list of targets.

What threats remain for Ukraine

Russia’s statement came against the backdrop of ongoing air strikes on Ukraine. Ukrainian experts had previously warned that the Russian army might intensify pressure on the energy infrastructure as the cold season approaches.

In particular, military expert Igor Romanenko stated that the Russian side is conducting reconnaissance of Ukrainian energy facilities and identifying priority targets. In his assessment, such attacks may intensify as colder weather sets in.

However, as the experts emphasise, earlier predictions that Ukrainians might allegedly receive electricity for only a few hours a day this winter do not represent a fixed scenario. Such assessments depend on the scale of future attacks, the condition of the power grid and the speed at which damaged facilities can be repaired. Experts have previously highlighted various possible scenarios regarding the duration of power cuts.

The need to prepare for potential damage to the energy infrastructure during the autumn and winter months has already been discussed in Ukraine. Possible measures include the use of backup power sources and the creation of additional capacity to supply electricity to critical facilities.

It should be recalled that, following Russian strikes on the Kherson Thermal Power Station, the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, urged the city’s residents to leave if possible, as it is no longer possible to rely on the normal operation of the thermal power station and other critical infrastructure facilities during the winter.