Russia has begun stockpiling long-range missiles, a move that suggests the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is planning a massive assault on Ukraine's energy systems.
This warning comes from Vadym Skibitskyi, who is active in Ukraine's intelligence service, in an interview with the news agency RBC Ukraine.
According to Skibitskyi, Moscow will strike as the cold sets in over Ukraine.
"They are waiting for the temperature to drop below zero. Then they will initiate a massive attack," he says to RBC, adding,
"The airstrikes will begin when our electrical system is under heavy load. They will attack when electricity consumption is at its peak."
Last winter's terror bombings
The Russian terror bombings of civilian infrastructure in Ukraine – particularly the electricity and water supply – escalated last fall and winter. In an attempt to make it as costly as possible for Ukraine, the Putin regime decided to make everyday life as difficult as possible for the Ukrainian population.
Massive missile attacks were directed at civilian infrastructure. 70 energy facilities were damaged during the period. Reports of civilian casualties came in daily.
Alarming information
This year, the Ukrainian intelligence service estimates that Russia will increase the intensity of airstrikes against the electricity and water supply. "They hope to be able to knock out all critical points in the energy system in a wave of attacks," says Vadym Skibitskyi.
He refers to intelligence information indicating that Russia will use the cruise missiles Kh-101 and Kalibr. "They have not been used since September. This indicates that the stockpiles have been replenished. Just in October, Russia produced 40 Kh-101 and 20 Kalibr," Vadym Skibitskyi reveals.
The cruise missiles travel at an extremely high speed and are very difficult to shoot down.
