Russia shifts to attacks on Ukraine's power lines with new drones, energy minister says

Speaking during a parliamentary question-and-answer session, Shmyhal said Ukraine was better prepared for the coming winter than in previous years of Russia's full-scale invasion.

He said the country had used lessons from earlier attacks to protect as much of its electricity generation and transmission infrastructure as possible.

However, Russia is adapting its tactics, deploying new drones with shaped-charge warheads against electricity pylons and power lines and carrying out attacks continuously, according to the minister.

"Large facilities that are difficult to restore are now protected," Shmyhal said.

He added that repairs to damaged infrastructure generally take relatively little time, but the sheer number of incidents continues to disrupt electricity supplies in Ukrainian cities.

Kyiv has been particularly affected, he said, because of the intensity of Russian attacks targeting the capital.

The warning comes as Ukraine prepares for another winter under the threat of sustained Russian strikes on its energy system.

The New York Times previously reported that Ukrainian officials had obtained a Russian plan for a winter campaign aimed at disrupting electricity, heating and water supplies to major cities, particularly Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa.

According to that report, the plan envisaged attacks on electricity import infrastructure near Ukraine's western borders, followed by strikes against hydroelectric facilities and nuclear power plants.

Shmyhal's latest remarks suggest that, alongside threats to major facilities, repeated attacks on individual components of the electricity network remain a serious challenge for Ukraine's energy resilience.