Smoke rises from a fire at a large warehouse storing car tires and wheels after a strike by Russia in the Bucha district of Kiev, Ukraine, on August 29, 2026.
Ribkos | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Days after launching a devastating attack on a warehouse near Kiev, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced it was planning a “large-scale attack” on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, again fueling fears of a winter attack.
In a post published via Telegram on Sunday, the Russian Ministry of Defense framed the planned attack as a response to continued attacks by Ukraine on Russian energy facilities.
“Following the instructions received, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have begun preparations to launch large-scale attacks on energy facilities in Ukraine in response to the Kiev regime’s continued attacks on civilian infrastructure and fuel and energy facilities in Russia,” the Russian Ministry of Defense said, according to Google Translate.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the warning came after Russia’s attack on a warehouse west of Kiev on Friday night brought the death toll to 38 and four missing.
Ukrainian officials said the attack was Russia’s deadliest attack in Ukraine so far this year, hitting an ammunition storage facility in the village of Myra, causing a fire and explosion.
President Zelenskiy said emergency workers had extinguished most of the fire and said the incident was a “terrible situation” and the result of “gross negligence on the part of those who stored explosives in close proximity to people.”
Ukraine’s president said on Saturday that he had launched an investigation to determine how and why the ammunition came to be stored there.
The Russian military is increasing the number of missile attacks on Ukrainian cities as Kiev faces a shortage of air defense equipment.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has pursued long-range drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and logistics hubs to shore up Russia’s war costs and test President Vladimir Putin’s resolve after more than four-and-a-half years of conflict.
“Winter is coming”
Ukrainian officials, drone executives and national security experts have previously warned that the country could face another extremely harsh winter amid fears of another sustained military attack on the power grid in sub-zero temperatures.
Since April, President Zelenskiy has emphasized the importance of ensuring that the country’s energy and critical infrastructure facilities are fully operational and protected for the next heating season.
Irina Terek, CEO of Ukrainian drone maker Firepoint, said in an interview with CNBC earlier this month that Kiev needs to be realistic about the threats it faces, especially given the country’s severe shortage of air defense systems.
“It is clear that winter is approaching, but last winter was very difficult for Ukraine and for large cities in general. This year will not be easy at all and will probably be even tougher,” Terev said.
