The New York Times obtains a purported Russian plan to cripple Ukraine’s power grid, including by cutting electricity and heat supplies to three major cities by 90%

The New York Times reports it obtained a Russian Defense Ministry document, shown by Ukraine's energy minister to European officials in late September, outlining a staged campaign of missiles, guided bombs and drones meant to disable Ukraine's power grid. The plan reportedly targets Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa for a 90% cut in electricity and heat, plus damage to sewage systems, aiming to eliminate nearly 15 gigawatts of capacity.

Ukraine says it hopes to reach 21 gigawatts of capacity by year's end, enough for last winter's peak demand of 18 gigawatts, but continued strikes could erode those gains. Russian forces have already struck bridges across the Dnipro in Kyiv, snarling traffic and closing one span entirely.

The Times says it cannot verify the document's authenticity, a caveat worth keeping in view given what's being proposed.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.