Russia Prepares Large-Scale Strike on Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure

Russia said it is preparing a large-scale strike on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. According to Sina Finance, the Russian Defense Ministry said the planned attack would be a response to continued Ukrainian strikes on Russian civilian infrastructure and fuel and energy facilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the death toll from Friday's Russian strike on a warehouse west of Kyiv had risen to 38, with four people still missing. Ukrainian officials said the attack was this year's deadliest Russian strike in Ukraine and targeted an ammunition storage site in Myrne village, triggering multiple fires and explosions. Zelensky said emergency crews had extinguished most of the fires and called it a terrible tragedy caused by placing explosives near a residential area. He also said Ukraine had opened an investigation into why and how the ammunition was stored at the site. Ukraine has warned that it may face another harsh winter as air defense equipment remains in short supply. Since April, Zelensky has repeatedly said Ukraine must ensure its energy and critical infrastructure remain fully operational and well protected ahead of the next heating season. Fire Point CEO Iryna Terekh said earlier this month that Ukraine must confront the threat and that its air defense gap is especially severe. She said winter is clearly approaching and that the coming winter will not be easy, and may be even harder.