Reserve major Hetman predicts Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure

Ukrainian National Guard’s reserve major Oleksiy Hetman, a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, said that Russian forces may wait for cold weather before attempting an attack

He stated it during an interview on Espreso TV.

He mentioned that it's been a while since the last shelling, which happened on October 2. This suggests that they are regrouping and more attacks may occur.

"Last year, the invading Russian forces started similar activities around October 30. So, it's possible they are preparing for specific dates, but it's more likely they're watching weather forecasts. They'll likely wait for cold weather before attempting an attack," Hetman observed.

With the recent attack on Khmelnytskyi, the invaders might be signaling their capability to target a nuclear power plant.

"I can't say for certain if it was a direct attack on the nuclear power plant, but it could be a warning to escalate tensions and use it as leverage to make demands on us and our partners. Their primary focus seems to be nuclear threats or the use of nuclear weapons, as they keep mentioning," he explained.

• On the night of October 25, Russian forces launched a drone attack on Ukraine. Explosions were heard in the Khmelnytskyi region, specifically in the Shepetivka district. These attacks damaged critical infrastructure when some of the drones were shot down.
• The attackers deployed 11 Shahed drones. Air defense systems successfully intercepted and destroyed all of them. However, falling debris resulted in civilian casualties. In the towns of Slavuta and Netishyn in the Khmelnytskyi region, 11 apartment buildings, 9 private residences, 2 educational institutions, 2 fire and rescue units, a police department building, and other civilian infrastructure were also affected.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that the Russian drones' primary target during the night attack on October 25 was likely the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant.
• On October 26, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) responded to the incident involving the downing of Russian drones near the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant.
• Vladyslav Seleznyov, a military expert and former spokesperson for the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, stated that the damage in the Khmelnytskyi region was not a result of the drone wreckage.