On Sunday morning, Russia sent around 120 missiles and 90 drones against Ukraine, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The attack is described as one of the biggest since Russia started the war of invasion.
Several people, including at least two children, were injured in the attacks. At least two people have died. But Russia’s primary goal, according to Joakim Paasikivi, is to knock out infrastructure.
– Quite obviously, this follows the pattern Russia has, to attack civilian cities and the focus should have been the power supply, as before. The aim is to make Ukraine stop industrially and for the people to freeze to death, says the military expert.
Just as historically in the war, Russia wants to minimize the Ukrainian people’s willingness to defend themselves and drive people out of the country.
– The citizens must have as extremely difficult a situation as possible. Living in apartment buildings without heat and water, without the possibility to cook or wash oneself. It exposes children, the elderly, the sick. On a systemic level, they want to break down Ukrainian society, and to get a wave of refugees towards the West so that we in the West will think it is so sad that they are pressuring Ukraine for peace.
Zelenskyy comments on the tactics of X:
“Russian terrorists are once again trying to scare us with cold and blackouts. They repeat their actions and try to get results from them.
The whole world sees and knows that we defend ourselves against absolute evil, which understands no other language than violence. We need unity, the world needs unity. Only together can we stop this evil”.
Today 10:54
Massive Russian air strike against Ukraine – air alert throughout the country
Better negotiating position a bonus for Russia
Most of the robots and drones were shot down by Ukraine’s air defense during Sunday morning. Some penetrated and have caused both material and personal damage. No air defense can handle all attacking objects in such a large attack, says Joakim Paasikivi.
The military expert does not think that the massive attack shows a change in tactics on the Russian side linked to the US election and Trump as president-elect.
Is Putin trying to squeeze out everything he has now to put himself in a better position for possible peace negotiations?
– I have a hard time seeing it, how would one then explain the previous similar attacks. Russia continues to wage its war in this pattern because it believes it will succeed. It would of course be a big bonus if it leads to a change in American rhetoric, but I think that is putting the cart before the horse, says Paasikivi.
Poland increases preparedness: “Naturally”
In response to the attacks, Poland has raised its readiness with “all available forces”, including fighter jets that also include “allies”. That’s what Poland’s military leadership writes on X.
– It is quite a natural development when there are such large robot attacks relatively close to the Polish border. It does not necessarily mean that the situation has changed or that Poland will now intervene in the war. Here, the Polish side wants, as far as I understand, to ensure that there is a readiness to shoot down any robots that may enter Polish airspace.