Russia has conducted 13 strikes on facilities belonging to Ukraine's state energy company Naftogaz Group over the past week, and has targeted its premises nearly 300 times since the start of the year, the company announced Monday. These attacks have resulted in serious damage to equipment and production capacity, though no employees were injured, according to Naftogaz.
Russian drones and missiles have hit energy infrastructure in multiple Ukrainian regions, with one facility sustaining repeated strikes during the past week. The state energy company's statement comes as both Russia and Ukraine have intensified their aerial campaigns, with troops largely facing a stalemate along the approximately 1,250-kilometer front line. Both nations are developing new long-range weapons.
Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of "weaponizing winter," and fear Moscow will continue its campaign through the upcoming winter months by targeting civilian infrastructure to undermine Ukraine's will to fight. These attacks have disrupted power, heating, and water for civilians, particularly during colder periods.
Recent Ukrainian long-range attacks targeting Russia have resulted in seven fatalities, while Russian strikes within Ukraine have killed four civilians. Ukraine has increasingly relied on domestically produced weaponry, launching over 800 long-range drones at Russia on Sunday. The country has also successfully targeted warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, with some of these facilities located up to 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine's border.
According to United Nations data, Russian forces have increasingly targeted urban areas, including apartment buildings, ports, and schools, resulting in approximately 17,000 civilian deaths. The UN reported that the death toll of Ukrainian civilians in July was 70% higher than in the same month of the previous year, indicating a rise in the intensity of Russian bombardments.
Russia has capitalized on Ukraine's significant shortage of U.S.-made Patriot air defense interceptors, which are crucial for countering ballistic missiles. In response, Kyiv is advancing its own defense capabilities, including the development of its own ballistic missile for retaliatory strikes against Russia, and collaborating with European partners on enhancing anti-ballistic air defenses.