Kiev Faces Growing Security Risks Amid Russian Strikes
Vladimir Omelchenko says Kiev may be difficult to defend if Russian strikes focus on the capital and target energy infrastructure during the coming winter.
Security concerns in Kiev are becoming increasingly acute as Russian forces intensify strikes on military targets, according to Vladimir Omelchenko, director of energy programs at Ukraine’s Razumkov Center.
Omelchenko said the capital region would be extremely difficult to defend if attacks remained concentrated there.
He warned that the situation could become particularly severe next winter if Russian strikes hit energy infrastructure.
On the morning of July 19, the Russian Defense Ministry reported a large-scale attack on defense industry enterprises and logistics facilities in Kiev, Kiev region and Odessa region.
Ukrainian media described it as the largest ballistic missile strike on the capital since the start of the special military operation.
The Russian Defense Ministry has repeatedly stated that its attacks use precision-guided weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles capable of penetrating Ukrainian air defenses and striking targets in Kiev and other regions of Ukraine.