Vladimir Putin has said a “massive” attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is in response to Western long-range missiles being used to strike inside Russia, threatening that “decision-making centres” could be a future target.
Russia launched another major attack on Ukraine’s power grid overnight which left more than a million households without power, Ukrainian officials have said.
Speaking in Astana, Kazakhstan, the Russian president said more than 90 missiles and 100 drones were fired in a “comprehensive strike” on 17 targets, including military and defence industry facilities.
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Mr Putin said the attack was in part a retaliation for American-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles being used to strike inside Russia, which outgoing US President Joe Biden approved earlier this month.
“As I have already said many times, there will always be a response from our side,” he said while meeting members of a security alliance of ex-Soviet states.
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The attack was Russia’s second major aerial assault on Ukraine’s power grid in less than two weeks, stoking fears of Moscow wanting to cripple Kyiv’s supplies ahead of what is expected to be a freezing winter – a recurring tactic over the nearly three-year war.
Mr Putin told the same meeting that “decision-making centres” in Kyiv, where government buildings have so far been spared bombing, could be targeted as part of his response to the use of the Western-supplied long-range missiles in Russia.
He suggested Moscow may use its new Oreshnik hypersonic missile, deployed in Ukraine for the first time last week, saying would continue being tested.
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Military analyst Sean Bell looks at the missile’s capabilities, as well as the challenges it poses for the West.
“At present, the ministry of defence and the general staff are selecting targets to hit on Ukrainian territory.
“These could be military facilities, defence and industrial enterprises, or decision-making centres in Kyiv,” he said.
The Russian president also warned that Moscow would use all weapons at its disposal against Ukraine if Kyiv were to acquire nuclear arms.
“If the country which we are essentially at war with now becomes a nuclear power, what do we do? In this case, we will use all, I want to emphasize this, precisely all means of destruction available to Russia,” he said.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the phone on Thursday to discuss “continued defence cooperation”.
Sir Keir described the attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector as “systematic” and “depraved”.
Meanwhile, Mr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the UK for its ongoing financial support. He also “emphasized the need for Ukraine to receive an invitation to NATO and enhance its long-range capabilities”, a statement on the president’s website reads.