Russia attacks Ukraine’s critical infrastructure mainly to dampen civilian morale, says UK intelligence
With attacks on civilian infrastructure, the Russian Federation wants to influence the moral condition of Ukrainians (Photo:REUTERS/Vladyslav Musiienko)
The continued prioritization of critical national infrastructure over military targets strongly implies Russia has the intent of lowering civilian morale, the UK’s Defence Intelligence said in an update on Ukraine on Nov. 11.
Russia has attacked Ukraine with a campaign of strikes targeting electrical infrastructure since Oct. 10. Typically, these attacks have come in waves.
The most recent intense strikes were on Oct. 31, which involved targeting hydroelectric dam facilities for the first time.
The UK’s Ministry of Defense noted that the strikes have resulted in widespread damage to transmission stations and power plants. Scheduled and emergency blackouts have become routine in parts of Ukraine, with Kyiv notably impacted.
“Recoverability varies, and the impacts of strikes are unlikely to be felt uniformly,” Defense Intelligence wrote.
“Continued degradation of networks by Russian strikes will almost certainly have consequences for interlinked water and heating systems, that will be most significantly felt by the civilian population during winter, as demand increases.”
The MoD adds that these strikes have disproportionally affected civilians and have disrupted basic services such as healthcare and heating.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia was building up forces for possible new strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure – primarily energy facilities.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Air Force Command spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said on Nov. 10 that Russian missile and drone attacks have decreased in intensity, but the invading forces are likely trying to stock up on ammunition for a new mass strike against Ukraine. He stressed that Russian military plants are working around the clock to replenish cruise missile stocks.
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