Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the Russian General Staff, reported to Vladimir Putin on the massive strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and attacks on strategically important bridges. According to him, the Russian army is also striking enterprises within the military-industrial complex in an attempt to curtail Ukrainian production of long-range weaponry. Russian media reported on the briefing on 16 October 2026. The statements came against the backdrop of large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s power grid, which left over a million consumers temporarily without electricity for 24 hours.
Gerasimov briefed Putin on the strikes against Ukraine’s energy sector
Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov during the presentation To Vladimir Putin said. Russian troops have launched attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. According to reports in the Russian media, the Russian military command has also included strategically important transport infrastructure on its list of targets.
Gerasimov claims that the Russian army is carrying out strikes against Ukrainian targets which Moscow considers to be linked to the military-industrial complex.
However, the actual consequences of these attacks extend far beyond the defence industry. Russian strikes regularly result in power cuts in residential areas, disruption to public services and damage to civilian infrastructure.
Russia has confirmed strikes on strategic bridges in Ukraine
Separately, Gerasimov informed Putin that Russian troops are carrying out attacks on bridges, which are of strategic importance.
In early October, Russian drones repeatedly attacked road bridges across the Dnipro in Kyiv. In particular, the South and North Bridges were targeted. Due to the damage to transport infrastructure, traffic on certain crossings was temporarily restricted.
Attacks on bridges can disrupt transport links between different parts of cities, hamper the work of the emergency services and hinder the transport of civilian goods. In his report, Gerasimov did not publish a full list of the bridges that the Russian command considers to have been hit, nor did he provide independently verified data on the extent of the damage.
The Kremlin has claimed that Ukrainian missile production has slowed
Gerasimov also claims that Russian strikes have allegedly reduced the capacity of Ukrainian enterprises to produce long-range weapons, in particular cruise missiles. According to the Russian military command, the attacks are directed against facilities that support the defence industry.
The Russian side has not published any verified data regarding specific manufacturing plants, the extent of the damage caused, or the reduction in arms production.
Ukraine continues to develop its own long-range systems and use them to strike military and industrial targets on Russian territory.
On 16 October, Russia attacked the energy infrastructure in Kyiv and five regions
The statements by the Russian military command came against the backdrop of a new wave of attacks on the Ukrainian power grid. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy, on 16 October, Russian forces repeatedly attacked energy infrastructure using attack drones.
Energy infrastructure in Kyiv and the Kyiv, Kharkiv, Rivne, Volyn and Odesa regions came under attack. Damage to equipment in various regions led to widespread power cuts.
In Volyn, around 370,000 customers were left without power this morning. Significant power cuts were also reported in the Rivne region. During the day, Ukrainian energy companies restored power to over a million customers affected by Russian attacks.
As well as energy facilities, Russian drones struck residential and commercial infrastructure. Two people were killed in Kharkiv and one in Volyn; there were also reports of numerous injuries.
