From Foreign Policy · Fredrik Wesslau · · 2m
Russia’s Air War Aims to Bleed Ukraine Dry
Russia targets Ukrainian infrastructure to cripple economy as winter approaches.
In brief
Russia targets Ukrainian infrastructure to cripple economy as winter approaches. Russia’s intensified air campaign aims to paralyze Ukraine’s economy and society by winter through strikes on railways, utilities, and civilian infrastructure. Originally reported by Foreign Policy.
Russia intensifies air campaign
Russia has widened its air war against Ukraine after Ukrainian forces stopped and partially reversed Russian battlefield advances.
New air war strategy
Putin aims to paralyze Ukraine’s economy, society, and state functions as winter approaches through increased missile and drone strikes.
Targeting civilian infrastructure
Russia systematically strikes Ukrainian railways, gas stations, port infrastructure, cargo ships, shopping malls, and data centers.
Cutting off utilities
Russia plans to cut Ukrainian cities off from electricity, heating, and water as winter approaches.
Increased missile production
Russia produces around 100 ballistic missiles per month, up from a handful in 2022 and expected to rise further by next year.
U.S. Patriot shortage
The U.S. produces only about half the number of Patriot interceptors Russia produces per month, with stocks dwindling due to Middle East conflicts.
Jet-powered drones
Russia introduced jet-powered Iranian Shahed drones in 2025, flying at 375 miles per hour and harder to intercept than original propeller drones.
Gas station strikes
Around 300 of Ukraine’s 5,500 gas stations have been struck in six months, causing diesel prices to rise 50 percent since the start of the year.
Railway disruptions
Russia has hit around 500 locomotives since 2022, with more than half of attacks this year, causing train delays and passenger evacuations.
Black Sea port attacks
Russia hit around 50 civilian cargo ships in the Black Sea port of Odesa, effectively shutting down Ukraine’s maritime egress.
Steel production decline
By late September, three steel plants accounting for 90 percent of Ukraine’s total steel production stopped operations due to Russian strikes.
Data center strikes
Recent strikes on data centers have caused intermittent internet outages as Ukraine heads into winter.
Ukraine’s air defense gap
Ukraine’s shortage of Patriot PAC-3 interceptors leaves it defenseless against Russian ballistic missiles like the Oreshnik and Iskander.
Western support needed
Europe and the U.S. must ramp up military and economic support to Ukraine to counter Russia’s air campaign and prevent mass exodus.
The one thing
Russia’s intensified air campaign aims to paralyze Ukraine’s economy and society by winter through strikes on railways, utilities, and civilian infrastructure.
