Explaining complex things in simple words: Attacks on energy infrastructure, value of air defense, destruction of enemy fleet

The Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security pursues efforts to provide a brief explanation to foreign audiences on the current topics of particular interest as regards Ukraine.          

ATTACKS ON ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE

▪ The air attack on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure on March 22 was the largest for the entire duration of the war. Up to 50% of DTEK's generating facilities were affected.

▪ The worst situation is in Kharkiv. The Russians destroyed the largest CHP plant in Kharkiv Oblast. Hundreds of thousands of consumers were left without electricity.

▪ Victims of attacks against the Ukrainian energy sector are primarily civilians. Russia deliberately carries out terrorist tactics, ignoring international humanitarian law.

▪ Power engineers are making efforts to restore the electricity supply in the homes of Ukrainians. There are already achievements and in the near future the deficit will be eliminated.

▪ Thanks to the Defence Forces, it was possible to prevent Russian plans to cause an energy collapse in winter, when the population was especially vulnerable to the lack of energy supply. 

THE VALUE OF AIR DEFENCE

On March 25, Ukrainian air defence forces destroyed 2 of the 2 ballistic missiles used by the enemy to attack Kyiv.

▪ Since the beginning of the war, Ukraine's air defence forces have shot down more than 2,000 Russian cruise and ballistic missiles, saving tens or even hundreds of thousands of lives.

▪ In the two years of the full-scale war, the capacity of air defence systems and the skill of their operators has increased significantly. Ukrainian sky guardians are the best.

▪ The enemy increases the number and power of attacks. Russia began to use its latest missiles against Ukrainians more often, in particular, Kinzhal, Oniks, and the hypersonic Zircon missiles.

▪ Modern air defence systems in Ukraine are still not enough to reliably cover the critical infrastructure in the city. We urge allies to provide Ukraine with additional air defence systems.

▪ The issue of sufficient and timely provision of air defence with ammunition is also critical because the enemy is trying to deplete this resource with incessant attacks. 

DESTRUCTION OF THE ENEMY FLEET

On the evening of March 23, the Ukrainian Defence Forces successfully hit large landing ships Yamal and Azov, a communications centre, as well as several infrastructure facilities of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol.

▪ The Ukrainian attack on enemy military facilities in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol was the largest since the beginning of the war.

▪ Space images and photos from the scene confirm the successful engagement of targets. Enemy media resources cannot conceal their despair.

▪ An important link in the management of the enemy fleet was attacked — the communications centre, which was established in the military camp of the Ukrainian Navy headquarters captured in 2014.

▪ Most of the large landing ships of the enemy fleet in the Black Sea, which played a significant role in the logistics of the war, were destroyed or damaged.

▪ Russia cannot deploy its fleet in the western part of the Black Sea and is forced to withdraw ships from the occupied Crimea to the Caucasus coast. 

Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security