In May 1943, a specially trained Royal Air Force bomber unit conducted a raid that breached two major German dams in the Ruhr Valley. The “dam busters” attack resulted in the destruction of hydroelectric power stations, mines and factories and killed around 1600 civilians. It was designed to reduce German wartime production in the critical Ruhr region. RAF planners also hoped the raid would draw German military resources away from the front line.
Since then, attacks on hydroelectric plants, electricity generation stations and distribution systems have been conducted in Korea, Vietnam and Iraq. Largely, these were focused on reducing civilian morale, degrading industrial production and influencing national leaders. Targeting electrical systems in the Iraq War also focused on cutting power supplies to air defence radars.
The Ukrainian military is also a target. Russia hopes these strikes will divert military resources and Western assistance into defending and rebuilding the power grid. Such attacks might assist Russia’s General Sergei Surovikin and his beleaguered and demoralised ground forces.More broadly, the Russian missile and drone strikes impose significant economic costs on the Ukrainian government.
Many missiles are being shot down. But many Russian missiles and suicide drones still get through to hit power stations, substations and other civil infrastructure. However, if anything, the current missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian targets appear to have hardened Ukraine’s resolve. Until Ukraine can prove to Putin that he cannot defeat it this way, it will need to continue building its defences.
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