Russia's massive strikes on energy infrastructure: why Ukraine cannot protect critical facilities

A shortage of crucial missiles for air defense systems is preventing Ukraine from protecting critical infrastructure from Russian attacks.

This is stated in a new report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Russian strikes have caused significant limitations in Ukraine's power generation capacity. The invaders have exploited the vulnerabilities of Ukrainian air defenses during attacks on the energy system throughout this year. Intense enemy bombardments have imposed severe restrictions on Ukraine's power generation capabilities.

"Russian forces have been able to exploit the lack of modern Western air defense systems to inflict maximum damage on the country's energy infrastructure throughout 2024," the ISW notes.

Additionally, in an interview with the Kyiv Post, DTEK's Executive Director Dmytro Sakharuk states that Russia has five to six missiles against every interceptor missile, that Ukraine's Air Force has to protect the energy system. Thus, if the occupiers launch 10 missiles at any target, the defense forces need to respond with at least 12 air defense missiles to effectively counter the attack.

Sakharuk emphasizes that the significant disparity between the necessary and actual ratio of Ukrainian air defense assets and attacking Russian missiles means that the shortage of interceptor missiles makes it impossible to cover the energy system facilities that Ukraine has repaired or is currently repairing.

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