NYT reveals Russian plan to attack Ukraine's energy system

Russia plans to disable Ukraine's energy system in three stages. This is according to a plan published by journalists based on information intercepted by Ukraine.

Source: The New York Times

Details: The plan lays out three stages of attacks.

The first is to disable substations near Ukraine's western borders that import electricity from Europe. The second is to disable hydroelectric power plants. The third is to disconnect Ukraine's three operating nuclear power plants: Khmelnytskyi, Rivne and Pivdennoukrainsk.

Russia plans to use up to 1,000 missiles, drones and aerial bombs. The targets include substations, thermal power plants, hydroelectric power plants, boiler houses and other energy infrastructure.

The ultimate goal is to cut major Ukrainian cities off from electricity, heating and water supplies, potentially causing a humanitarian crisis.

Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa have been identified as the main targets. Russian forces plan to cut electricity supplies to these cities by 90%, reduce heating supplies by up to 90%, and seriously disrupt their sewage systems.

However, The New York Times notes that it is unclear whether Russia will follow the strategy outlined in the plan and whether it would succeed if it did.

Background: Ukrainian officials have said they are concerned that Ukraine does not have a sufficiently developed plan in case of large-scale Russian strikes on water supply systems.

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