Ukraine and Russia Open ‘Energy’ Front: Attacks on Infrastructure Intensify – Rezazade

As winter approaches, the war between Ukraine and Russia is increasingly turning into a struggle for control of energy infrastructure. Moscow has resumed massive strikes on gas networks and power plants, while Kyiv is responding with precision strikes on Russian oil refineries.

In just a few days, Ukrainian drones have disabled enterprises in Bashkortostan, Volgograd, Saratov and Novokuibyshevsk, causing fires and disruptions in fuel production.

Russia, in turn, is intensifying attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities, especially on gas infrastructure, which is key to the heating season. Using hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles every day, the Kremlin is seeking to exhaust Ukraine’s air defense system and cause irreparable damage to the energy sector.

International expert, first vice president of the Iranian opposition in Washington, Ali Reza Rezazade, notes that the current confrontation in the energy sector is taking on a strategic nature.

“Ukraine is trying to break Russia’s energy stability by disabling its oil refineries. This is an important signal: Kyiv is showing that the Kremlin also has vulnerabilities, and the war can hurt not only Ukrainian cities, but also the Russian economy,” Rezazade emphasizes.

At the same time, the expert emphasizes that Russia is using “attrition” tactics, using massive drone attacks to gradually break the Ukrainian air defense system. “The key issue is Ukraine’s ability to withstand the intensity of these strikes. If Russia launches hundreds of drones per night, even the best defense system can be overwhelmed,” he notes.

Despite this, Ukrainian energy experts remain cautiously optimistic. According to the head of DTEK, the country has enough gas reserves to get through the winter, especially if it is mild. The experience of three previous winters helps the energy system to work even during massive shelling.

Rezazade concludes: “We see that the energy front is becoming decisive in the war. This is not only a matter of light and heat for Ukrainians, but also the key to the economic stability of both countries. If Ukraine can continue its attacks on Russian refineries, it will make the Kremlin feel the same risks that Kyiv feels.”

Thus, the “battle for energy” is becoming one of the main directions of the war, the results of which will depend not only on the course of hostilities, but also on the political stability of both sides.