on 26 August, Russia launched one of its largest strikes against Ukraine. The combined attack involved more than a hundred missiles of various types and about a hundred shaheds, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The target was the Kyiv hydroelectric power station, which was damaged. However, the Centre for Countering Disinformation reassures that it is impossible to completely destroy the Kyiv HPP with missiles. What was Russia’s goal this time and what targets could be next, we analysed 
Yes, it is impossible to destroy the dam of the Kyiv hydroelectric power station. It can only be done from the inside with the help of explosives, explains
“You can only damage electrical equipment and so on. Something like Dniproges. The enemy will repeat the attacks and not only on the Kyiv HPP. Some power plants have been hit 5-6 times. We need to be prepared for this. The Russians are already thinking about the gas transmission infrastructure,” said Ivan Plachkov.
Moreover, according to aviation expert Kostyantyn Kryvolap, Russia’s target on 26 August was not only Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, but also its gas infrastructure.
Russia’s goal is total blackout and panic
The goal, according to the former Minister of Fuel and Energy, is one and the same – to arrange a total blackout. In particular, to create great inconvenience in the winter. According to Ivan Plachkov, there is only one way out of the situation: to strengthen air defence. After all, the intensity of the shelling will depend only on the number of missiles available in Russia.
Energy expert Volodymyr Omelchenko in an exclusive commentary
“There were two goals. The first was to sow panic in Kyiv in order to undermine the psychological stability of Kyiv residents and cause a wave of refugees from the capital. It is also the destruction of the generation itself. We have a shortage of balancing capacities provided by Kyivska HPP. And their destruction significantly complicates the balancing of the energy system,” said Volodymyr Omelchenko.
Did the Russians achieve their goals during the missile attack?
The energy expert is sure that they did not. Especially in terms of panic among the population, Omelchenko adds.
Moreover, no one will know the real consequences of the destruction of the Kyiv hydroelectric power station, as the experts’ report will be classified.
Massive attack as a “retaliatory strike”
The Russian military had two tasks at once, says in an exclusive commentary
“On the one hand, Russia had the goal of inflicting systemic strikes on the energy infrastructure before, in their opinion, completely destroying our energy sector. On the other hand, it was supposed to be revenge for the Kursk region,” Boris Tizenhausen believes.
No wonder Peskov talked about different options for revenge, all subsequent strikes will have the connotation of “retaliatory strikes”, says Tizengausen.
In conclusion, the political strategist notes that a massive Russian strike on Ukraine, in particular on the Kyiv hydroelectric power station, is a challenge for our partners. After 26 August, the West should lift restrictions on strikes against Russia, Tiesenhuizen is sure.
After the massive attack on Ukraine, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy also stressed that Putin can only do what the world allows him to do. He said that weakness and insufficient retaliatory decisions feed terror. And there can be no restrictions on Ukraine’s range when terrorists have no such restrictions. The President of Ukraine called on world leaders and partners to end the war with strong decisions.
Author: Anastasia Fedor