Kyiv: Russia has shifted its tactics in Ukraine, attacking the country’s critical energy infrastructure. Analysts say this new strategy involves coordinated drone and missile strikes on power stations, transmission lines, heating plants, natural gas mines, pipelines and underground reservoirs. The attacks are designed to degrade electricity and heating capacity ahead of winter.

Recent strikes used hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles simultaneously. Most drones have been modified to fly faster, at higher altitudes, and dive sharply to avoid interception. Missile software updates allow erratic courses, evading advanced Western-supplied air defences, including US-made Patriots.

A drop in interception rates, from 37 percent in August to six percent in September, has been observed, dem

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