On the night of December 6, Saint Nicholas Day and Ukraine’s Armed Forces Day, Russia carried out a massive attack on Ukraine. The Air Force’s radio-technical troops detected and tracked 704 air attack weapons. They identified 51 missiles, including 17 ballistic missiles, and 653 UAVs of various types. Ukrainian defenders destroyed or suppressed 615 enemy targets. The attack continued into the morning.
Polish military units went on high alert amid Russia’s massive strike. Fighter jets took to the skies.
Consequences
In Fastiv, Kyiv Region, Russian forces hit railway infrastructure and energy facilities. The blast destroyed the central railway station building. Explosions occurred near Kryvyi Rih in the Dnipropetrovsk Region. They targeted the area around the Kryvyi Rih Thermal Power Plant. The strike caused casualties, including children. Part of Lutsk lost electricity. Power outages also appeared in Lviv and the surrounding region, as well as in Poltava. Russian forces attacked critical infrastructure in Chernihiv and nearby areas. Damage cut heat for 9,500 customers in the Odesa Region, as well as 34,000 customers faced the cut of water supply.
Reactions
Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko summarized the consequences of the attack:
The head of Foreign Ministry of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha said that the recent events show steps not toward peace, but in the opposite direction:
Marko Mihkelson, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Estonian Parliament, argued that under such circumstances, it is unacceptable not to seize frozen Russian assets:
Kadyrov’s Threats
During a drone attack on the Chechen capital on December 5, a drone struck the Grozny City complex. It hit a site located about 800 meters from the residence of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
Starting tomorrow and throughout the week, Ukrainians will feel our harsh response. Our attacks will strike the military terrorist facilities of the Ukrainian Nazis. Wait and see!” threatened the head of Chechnya.
He called it a “personal gift.” Russia wants to show this strike as revenge. It is clearly part of planned mass attacks, which cannot be organized in a day.
Conclusion
Winter energy terror continues. Russia times these attacks for symbolic dates. It shows clear unwillingness to move toward peace. It also shows a belief in impunity, especially after the failure to approve the use of frozen Russian assets. A recent visit of U.S. representatives to Moscow added to this impression. The scale of attacks keeps growing. Russia accumulates resources rather than striking in smaller waves. Ukraine urgently needs more air defense systems. The most effective solution remains strong economic and military pressure on Russia.
