The Russian government is allegedly aiming to force Ukraine into submission during the upcoming winter season by crippling the nation's energy grid and plunging major cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa into darkness, freezing temperatures, and water shortages. This claim was reported by The New York Times, citing documents purportedly seized by Ukrainian forces and presented to European allies in September.

According to the published details, executing this alleged strategy to disconnect Ukraine's three largest urban centers from power, heat, and water would require approximately 70 ballistic missiles, 720 long-range drones, and 150 guided aerial bombs. Russian military planners purportedly believe that a month of such intensive strikes would completely devastate Ukraine's fragile energy infrastructure.

Analysts point out that after years of conflict, Ukrainian power plants have already lost their capacity to operate at full potential, meaning each successive wave of strikes rapidly accelerates their destruction. For instance, the combined capacity of the combined heat and power plants supplying Kyiv has dropped from roughly 1.3 gigawatts to about 500 megawatts. If the plan materializes, these major hubs could face a 90 percent loss in power and heating capacity, severely disrupting water and sewage systems.

The presumed viability of this strategy is heavily attributed to a critical shortage of air defense assets, particularly Patriot interceptor missiles, within the Kyiv regime's ranks, compounded by waning Western assistance. Harry Nedelku, director at Rasmussen Global, suggested to the newspaper that air strikes remain the primary leverage available to Moscow under the current circumstances.

Source: kun.uz