Ukraine warns of alleged Russian winter strike plan

Ukraine says a Russian-language document outlines a possible winter campaign of up to 1,000 strikes on energy and water infrastructure, including facilities linked to the country’s nuclear power plants. Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal reportedly presented the August-dated document to European partners in Paris. Its authenticity has not been independently established, and the reported attacks are a proposed plan, not confirmed future action. The document reportedly describes three stages: striking substations used to import electricity from Europe, attacking hydroelectric plants, and hitting switchyards that connect Ukraine’s three operating nuclear power plants to the grid. The reported strategy would target infrastructure near the reactors rather than the reactors themselves. The document allegedly says the campaign could remove nearly 15 gigawatts of generating capacity, a figure described as roughly equivalent to Ukraine’s available capacity at the end of summer. Water systems are also included in the reported plan. It allegedly calls for strikes on pumping stations and wastewater treatment facilities, and identifies Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as priority targets.