New York Times: Russia Plans to Deliver "Most Powerful Strikes" Against Ukraine

Ukrainian officials said Russia plans to deliver its "most powerful strike" against Ukraine, using advanced weapons to paralyze the country's electricity network.

According to the New York Times, citing officials on Friday, the first strike is expected later this autumn, coinciding with the first cold waves.

Russia struck a large thermal power plant and other energy facilities with missiles and drones two days ago, on Wednesday, shaking the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with loud explosions. By Thursday morning, several neighborhoods were suffering from power and water outages, which officials considered an "early" start to the campaign.

As reported by the New York Times, citing officials, the anticipated attack will mark the beginning of a new campaign to plunge Ukrainian cities into cold and darkness, with the ultimate goal of breaking the people's morale and crippling the war effort.

Russia launches similar campaigns every year with varying results, but it approaches this winter armed with stockpiles of ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones that Ukraine has struggled to intercept.

The scale of Russia's ambition to freeze and subdue Ukrainians is evident in a document presented by Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal to European partners in Paris two weeks ago, according to two people familiar with his presentation.

Shmyhal said the strikes would involve up to 1,000 missiles, drones, and bombs, targeting a wide range of facilities, including electrical substations, hydroelectric and thermal power plants, and boiler stations.