Russia's October Missile Strikes on Ukraine Reach Highest Level Since 2023, Targeting Critical Energy Infrastructure

Russia's military launched 270 missiles throughout October, marking a 46 percent increase from the previous month. (File)

An AFP analysis of Ukrainian data reveals that Russia fired more missiles at Ukraine in October than in any month since at least early 2023, as Moscow intensified its night-time attacks on the country's energy infrastructure.

The Russian strikes have triggered widespread blackouts affecting tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians. This marks the fourth consecutive winter that Moscow has targeted Ukraine's power grid, a strategy that Kyiv and its allies condemn as a deliberate attempt to break the morale of Ukraine's civilian population.

According to AFP's analysis of daily statistics published by Ukraine's air force, Russian forces launched 270 missiles during October, representing a 46 percent increase from September's figures. This is the highest monthly total since Kyiv began consistently releasing such statistics at the beginning of 2023.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Russia's intention is to create "chaos" through these concentrated attacks on energy facilities. "Russia's task is to create chaos and apply psychological pressure on the population through strikes on energy facilities and railways," Zelensky explained to journalists, including AFP representatives, during a briefing last month.

Similar to previous winters, authorities have implemented rolling blackouts across all regions of Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, throughout October to manage power shortages.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague issued arrest warrants last year for senior Russian military officials, charging them with the "war crime of causing excessive" harm to civilians through their attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

The data also shows that Russia launched 5,298 long-range drones against Ukraine in October. While this represents approximately a six percent decrease from September's figures, it still remains near record-high levels. Russian forces deploy drones against Ukrainian urban centers and energy installations on a daily basis.

In response, Ukraine has conducted counter-strikes targeting Russian oil depots and refineries, aiming to disrupt Moscow's crucial energy exports and cause fuel shortages throughout Russia.