In a significant escalation of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, more than a million Ukrainians have been left without power after Russia launched one of its largest missile and drone attacks on the country's energy infrastructure. The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia had launched a total of 88 missiles and 63 Iranian-made Shahed drones. While 37 missiles and 55 drones were shot down, others hit crucial energy facilities, including the country's largest dam and the Dnipro hydroelectric power plant.

The strikes resulted in blackouts in several regions and tragically claimed the lives of at least five people. These attacks mark a departure from Russia's usual characterization of the invasion as a "special military operation" and signify that the Kremlin now considers itself "in a state of war" with Ukraine.

The Russian defense ministry claimed that the "massive" airstrikes were launched in retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on its border regions in recent weeks. The southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, home to several major power facilities, bore the brunt of the onslaught. The largest dam in the country and the Dnipro hydroelectric power plant, one of Europe's largest, were among the targeted installations.

While Ukrainian authorities assured that there was no immediate risk of a breach, a generating unit at the dam was left in critical condition. Images circulated online showed a fire at the dam, exacerbating concerns about the safety of the energy infrastructure. German Galushchenko, the energy minister of Ukraine, described the attacks as the largest-scale assault on the country's energy industry in recent times, with the goal being to disrupt the operation of the energy system.

Ukraine had previously experienced Russian strikes on power and hydroelectric plants, substations, and heat generation facilities in the winter of 2022-23, which left households without electricity for weeks. However, the country had managed to strengthen its defenses and protect its energy infrastructure during the early months of the second winter of the war. Nevertheless, the delay in vital aid from the United States has significantly weakened Ukraine's ability to withstand such attacks.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine expressed frustration over the uncertainty surrounding Western support, pointing out that "Russian missiles have no delays, unlike aid packages for Ukraine." Zelenskiy emphasized the importance of prompt and decisive action to counter the aggression from Moscow.

Adding to the tensions, there has been anger within Ukraine over a report by the Financial Times, suggesting that the United States urged Kyiv to halt drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, fearing an increase in global oil prices. Ukraine has been using domestically-produced drones to target Russia's energy infrastructure, leading to the shutdown of key Russian oil refineries and a subsequent rise in oil prices.

The report is likely to strain relations between Ukraine and its Western allies. While Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna acknowledged the concerns of their American partners, she stressed that Ukraine is fighting with the resources and practices available to them.

Moscow's decision to refer to the situation as a "war" reflects Russia's effort to rally domestic support for the invasion and prepare its population for a prolonged conflict. The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, stated that the conflict had evolved from a special military operation to a war due to the involvement of Western countries on Ukraine's side.

The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) executive board, however, expressed optimism that the war would wind down by the end of 2024. The IMF approved a third review of Ukraine's $15.6 billion loan program, releasing $880 million for budget support. While Russia shows no signs of slowing down its assault on Ukraine, the IMF's assessment indicates a potential end to the conflict in the near future.