Escalating Missile Offensive: Russias Strikes on Ukraine Reach Highest Level in 2.5 Years

In October, Russia launched more missiles at Ukraine than in any month since at least the beginning of 2023, according to an analysis by AFP based on Ukrainian statistics.

The attacks have led to widespread blackouts that have impacted tens of thousands, as Moscow continues to target Ukraine’s power infrastructure for the fourth consecutive winter. This is viewed by Kyiv and its allies as a calculated strategy to undermine the morale of the civilian population.

The Russian military fired 270 missiles in October, marking a 46% increase compared to the previous month, as reported by the AFP analysis of daily data from Ukraine’s air force. This represented the highest monthly number since Kyiv began regularly updating its statistics at the start of the year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned Russia’s actions as an attempt to instill «chaos» by heavily attacking the country’s energy grid. “Russia’s goal is to create disorder and exert psychological pressure on the population through assaults on energy facilities and railroads,” Zelensky stated during a press briefing last month, which included representatives from AFP.

As has been the case in past winters, rolling blackouts were implemented across the nation, including in Kyiv, throughout October to manage electricity shortages.

Last year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague issued arrest warrants for high-ranking Russian military officials for inflicting significant harm on civilians through their strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

Additionally, the data revealed that Russia deployed 5,298 long-range drones against Ukraine in October, a decrease of about six percent from the previous month but still nearly reaching all-time highs. Russia conducts drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy facilities daily.

In response, Kyiv has launched strikes on Russian oil depots and refineries in an effort to disrupt Moscow’s crucial energy exports and create fuel shortages within Russia.