Russian General Staff announces start of "massive strikes" on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and pledges to attack strategic bridges
Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov reported to Putin that Russian troops had begun "massive strikes" on Ukraine's energy facilities and were also striking bridges "of strategic importance", railway facilities and data centres. The Russian dictator said such strikes must continue.
His statement was quoted by the Russian news agency Interfax, Censor.NET reports.
Gerasimov's statement
Gerasimov reported to Putin that, under the Russian General Staff's plan, strikes were being carried out on bridges "of strategic importance", railway facilities and data centres which, he claimed, were used to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
He separately stated: "The Russian Armed Forces have begun conducting massive strikes on Ukraine's energy facilities. A list of these facilities and the necessary number of weapons to strike them have been determined."
He also said Russian forces were continuing to strike enterprises in Ukraine's defence industry.
Putin's threats
Putin said tasks in the area of the so-called "special operation" must be carried out in strict accordance with the plan.
He also said it was necessary to continue conducting "massive and group strikes on the enemy's military-industrial facilities and logistics centres".
Background
- Earlier, on October 15, Putin said Russia was "responding" to attacks on Russian oil refineries with strikes targeting, among other things, energy infrastructure and data centres. Russia also struck Ukraine's civilian infrastructure during the so-called "energy truce".
Ukraine and Russia’s "energy ceasefire"
- On October 11, Trump announced the supposed start of an "energy ceasefire", claiming that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to halt strikes. Zelenskyy called this "news" and stressed that Kyiv was ready to take such a step if Moscow genuinely observed it.
- Citing European officials, the Financial Times reported that the Trump administration was demanding that Kyiv stop attacking Russian oil refineries, threatening to halt arms purchases and intelligence sharing.
- Russia subsequently continued its attacks on Ukraine, including its energy infrastructure. The US, for its part, did not warn Kyiv about ballistic missile launches and apparently restricted the operation of Starlink terminals, complicating frontline operations.
- On the morning of October 15, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine would resume strikes on Russian oil refineries. He said this followed three days without attacks amid restrictions on Starlink and, apparently, on intelligence sharing by the US.
- Earlier, on October 9, Trump announced that he had held an "extremely successful conversation" with Putin and agreed on supplies of thousands of tonnes of Russian diesel fuel to the US and global markets.
