Not blackouts but a "total war": how Russia is changing its tactics of strikes on Ukraine, – The Telegraph

Russia on the eve of winter expanded massive strikes against Ukraine, attacking bridges, railways, and ports. Ukrainian officials call the new enemy tactic total war aimed at destroying the economy and sowing chaos.

The Telegraph reports this.

How is Russia changing its strike tactics against Ukraine?

As the publication notes, since the end of August the character of Russian attacks has noticeably changed, as drones and missiles are increasingly striking cities during the day, and air alerts sound almost around the clock. In early October, for the first time since the full-scale invasion began, the occupiers attacked the North and South bridges in Kyiv, causing serious traffic jams.

At the same time, the enemy has intensified pressure on energy and communications infrastructure. Naftogaz facilities have endured more than 300 attacks since the start of the year, and strikes on data centers and telecommunications facilities have already caused interruptions in the operation of air-raid alert systems and government services.

Russia attacks logistics and metallurgy

A separate target became Ukraine's transport system. Trains and Ukrzaliznytsia infrastructure have suffered about 1700 attacks since the start of the year, leading to train delays and complicating agricultural exports due to a shortage of spare locomotives.

In September Ukraine exported only 2,4 million tons of agricultural products, about 46% of the usual volume. Heavy losses are also being borne by metallurgy: the Zaporizhstal plant was shut down for an indefinite period after several waves of missile strikes, and ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih cannot safely resume operations.

Use of new drones and ramping up production

According to the publication, the invaders began actively using rocket-modified strike drones "Geran-4" and "Geran-5", which can reach speeds of up to 375 miles per hour, equal to 603,5 kilometers per hour. The appearance of these drones has reduced the rate of interception by Ukrainian air defense from 90% to less than 60%.

Experts explain the intensification of attacks as Moscow trying to compensate for lack of progress on the ground and a sharp rise in defense production in Russia. Intelligence estimates that in August Russia produced more than 200 ballistic and cruise missiles and about 3000 robotic strike drones every month.

They are doing this now because they can. It’s as simple as that,

— says former Defense Ministry adviser Oleksandr Danilyuk.

He noted that Russia has reorganized its economy to military needs, while the West has failed to do so at sufficient scale. In the expert's view, the result of industrial warfare depends on how resources are allocated and on reliable allied support.

Ukraine's preparations for the winter period

Despite the intensification of the enemy's air campaign, its success is not guaranteed. Ukraine is actively decentralizing heat and electricity supplies and increasing local generation, including 55 medical facilities already producing electricity with solar panels.

Gas stocks in Naftogaz's storages at the start of the season reach 14,6 billion cubic meters, higher than last year's figures. In addition, the Defense Forces are deploying new automated machine-gun turrets to shoot down high-speed drones.

KMIS polls show that more than 60% of Ukrainians are willing to endure the war for as long as needed, while 75% are open to negotiations on ending the war.

As a reminder, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) considers that Donald Trump's proposed "energy truce" could benefit Russia, since the parties have not signed an official agreement and Russian forces continue to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure.