Kyiv Warns of New Russian Strikes on Energy and Dnipro Bridges as Ukraine Plans Response

In brief

• Zelensky says intelligence shows Russia is preparing a new strike on Ukrainian energy facilities, Dnipro bridges and civilian infrastructure.
• Ukraine's air defenses are preparing for the attack and need Patriot interceptors, which Zelensky urged partners to deliver quickly.
• Ukraine says its operation against Russian oil refineries continues as a response, with its next steps not yet specified.

Warning of a new strike

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on November 6 that intelligence indicates Russia is preparing a new attack on energy facilities, bridges across the Dnipro River and civilian infrastructure (Зеленський попередив про підготовку Росією нового удару по енергетиці та мостах через Дніпро – Espreso) (Росія готує новий удар по Україні: Зеленський попередив, що саме під прицілом – UNIAN) (Росія готує нові масовані удари по Україні: Зеленський назвав цілі ворога – TSN). He said Ukraine's Air Force and armed forces are preparing their defenses, a task he described as difficult (Россия готовит новый удар по энергетике, мостам и гражданской инфраструктуре — Зеленский – NV).

Air defense requests

Zelensky stressed the need for interceptors for Patriot air defense systems and urged partners not to postpone deliveries of promised weapons. He said each agreement and each day of supply matters (Зеленський: Маємо інформацію, що РФ готує новий удар по енергетиці, по мостах через Дніпро – Українська правда).

Context: the early-November attack

In the night of November 3, Russian forces carried out one of the largest massed attacks on Ukraine's energy grid this year. Ukrainian authorities said the attack involved 289 drones, 17 ballistic missiles and 59 cruise missiles, and hit energy facilities in ten regions, including a substation important for the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant. Emergency power outages were introduced in several regions. Officials said Russia is aiming to destroy power lines, transformers and switchgear, which keeps shortages in place even where generation is sufficient, and repairs are the priority.

Ukraine's planned response

Zelensky said an operation against the Russian oil refining sector is continuing as a response to strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities (Зеленський натякнув на нові удари по Росії: якою буде відповідь на атаки по енергетиці – TSN) (Україна визначила наступні відповіді на удари по енергетиці й продовжує дипстрайки по нафтопереробці РФ, – Зеленський – Espreso). He said Ukraine has determined its next answers, without specifying them. He also said he had spoken with the team handling long-range strikes on Russia and announced corresponding actions. Earlier, Ukraine's leadership had reported a campaign that it said destroyed 45% of Russian refinery capacity (В ответ на удары РФ по энергетике. Зеленский заявил, что Украина продолжит операции против российских НПЗ – NV).

Diplomacy

Zelensky said Ukraine continues efforts to restore diplomatic contacts with the United States, European countries and Russia, aiming to move toward ending the war. He said Russia must decide that the time for war is over, and that long-range sanctions and pressure from partners are creating incentives for real talks.

Read also

• Ukraine says it hit Russian rocket fuel plant in Rostov region with Neptune missiles and drones
• Zelensky Offers to Pause Strikes on Russian Refineries If US Supplies Patriot Missiles