The drone attack on Kiev left five people injured, homes on fire and 120 facilities and 77 homes without power, according to AFP.
Lieutenant Colonel Joakim Paasikivi believes that this is the beginning of Russia’s winter offensive against the Ukrainian electricity grid.
– We had one like that last winter. Perhaps 65 percent of the energy facilities were damaged. The Russians want to do the same this year, he says.
Purpose: Create a hell
According to Paasikivi, the fact that the attack is happening now is due to the fact that it has become cold enough for attacks on the electricity grid to be effective. And according to him, the purpose is crystal clear:
– Create hell for the population and problems for society.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, this is the worst drone attack on the capital since Putin launched his full-scale war on February 24, 2022. And according to Joakim Paasikivi, tonight’s attack is different from previous ones.
– Previous large attacks have involved 80-100 individual robots or drones. But then it has been a combination and also more goals, he says.
AFP reports that the attack consisted of several Shahed drones. Ukraine says 71 of the drones were shot down.
– Now there are 75 of one type, according to information, and it is a little different from what we have seen before. But it is too early to draw any particular conclusions in case, for example, the Russians are saving their more qualified cruise robots for later.
Effective Ukrainian defense
According to Paasikivi, Ukraine’s defense against last night’s drone attack shows that Ukraine was well prepared for this type of attack – which can cause great damage.
– Each Shahed drone has a combat charge of approximately 40 kilograms, it can knock out the energy power grid, but also cause great damage to houses, he says.
And Ukraine’s rearmament for the winter offensive seems to be a winning concept, which complements the anti-aircraft defense in a good way, says Paasikivi.
– The Ukrainian preparations consist of mobile teams, that is, a pickup truck with machine guns or an anti-aircraft gun on the bed that can drive around where they are needed.