Russia vows mass strikes on Ukraine's energy facilities; Zelensky pledges more long-range attacks

Russia declared it would target Ukraine's energy facilities after Kyiv announced plans to intensify its strikes on Russian territory.

Russia's Ministry of National Defense said Sunday (local time) it had begun preparing a large-scale strike campaign against Ukraine's energy infrastructure. In a statement, the ministry said the move was "a response to the Kyiv regime's continued attacks on Russia's civilian infrastructure and fuel and energy sector."

Overnight, Russian forces struck Ukrainian defense industry targets, killing at least 37 people. Russia said it hit a cement factory in the capital Kyiv that had been used as an explosives depot by Smart Ammunition, a company that produces unmanned aerial vehicles and munitions.

The announcement appeared to be a direct response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's declaration on Aug. 28, in which he vowed to escalate strikes against Russia. "We are currently carrying out more than 300 long-range strikes per day on average, and we need to increase that number," Zelensky said in a speech, adding that the goal was to operate 1,000 long-range drones daily. Pointing to the results of Ukraine's recent concentrated strikes on Russian oil refineries and energy infrastructure, he said "Russia is importing gasoline for the first time in history" and warned that Moscow would suffer greater losses if it refused to engage in serious peace talks.

As the war drags on, concerns are growing over the safety of energy facilities in conflict zones. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been cut off from external power for more than a week. Fighting north of the Dnipro River severed the external power lines, and the plant is currently running on emergency diesel generators. About 10 days' worth of diesel fuel remains for the generators.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi issued a statement Sunday urging an immediate halt to attacks, saying the IAEA was "closely monitoring the response capacity of a nuclear power plant that must rely on emergency diesel generators for an extended period." He said attacks that threaten plant staff or target spent nuclear fuel storage facilities and cooling pond areas "are absolutely unacceptable and must stop immediately."

Air raid alerts and drone activity have continued to be reported at other nuclear facilities in Ukraine. The South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant has issued air raid warnings nearly every day, and 11 drones were detected within its monitoring zone over the past week. Two drones and one missile were also reported detected within the monitoring zone at the Chornobyl site.