Think tank: Russia likely already launched campaign of strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure
The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assesses that Russia has likely begun this year's campaign of strikes against Ukraine's energy facilities earlier than in previous years, as Ukrainian battlefield gains push Vladimir Putin to rethink his original theory of victory.
New ISW assessment
Analysts at the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) say in their latest assessment that Russia has most likely already begun its seasonal campaign of long-range strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure — and appears to have started earlier than in previous years of the war.
A revised theory of victory
According to ISW researchers, the shift suggests that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has been forced to reconsider his original plan for securing victory in the war. Successes by Ukrainian forces on the battlefield, the think tank notes, have disrupted Moscow's expected timeline, pushing Russia to look for other means of pressuring Kyiv.
Long-range strikes as a pressure tool
ISW points out that Russia is now placing greater emphasis on long-range strikes, apparently hoping that large-scale attacks on energy infrastructure will push Ukraine toward capitulation. This approach has recurred in previous years of the war, but this year it appears to have started earlier than usual, which may point to the Kremlin's urgency to achieve results before the winter season sets in.
The think tank's assessment is based on available information about the frequency and targeting of the strikes, though it has not publicly disclosed precise figures or a list of specific facilities affected.
