Energy — 2026-11-11

Zelensky Accuses Russia of Trying to Split Ukraine Along the Dnipro as Strikes Cut Power in Dnipro and Kamianske

BLUFRussia's escalating strikes along the Dnipro aim to fragment Ukraine's logistics backbone, but Kyiv's shift toward redundancy over repair signals the crossings will hold.

Zelensky stated following a November 9 Stavka meeting with frontline regional officials and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko that Russia is attempting to split Ukraine along the Dnipro through its operation against bridges and the power grid, and he pledged additional state resources 12. That evening, DTEK reported Russian strikes damaged key equipment in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and cut power to a large part of Dnipro and Kamianske 34. Regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha said priority would go to critical infrastructure, and Invincibility Points were operating 5. Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 162 drones and one Iskander-M missile overnight on November 10, with hits at 19 locations and at least 14 people injured 46.

Analysis
Russia's combined campaign against Dnipro bridges and the grid is shifting from degrading service toward fragmenting Ukraine's logistics and power distribution, with the strain falling on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, where outages returned to Dnipro and Kamianske within a day of partial restoration on November 8. A Russian strike is unlikely to destroy or render impassable a road or rail bridge over the Dnipro in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia or Kyiv oblast between November 12 and November 30. Confidence is moderate: Kyiv bridges struck since early October were closed only partly or temporarily, and no crossing is officially confirmed permanently lost. Kyiv's roughly $22 million for backup crossings and Zelensky's pledge of added resources suggest officials plan around redundancy rather than repair. Zelensky's east-west split framing is new since October 31, but it may be mainly political messaging aimed at the Abu Dhabi talks and Western air defense aid, since the strikes match Russia's usual winter grid attrition. Sourcing is narrow, with Ukrainian outlets relaying the same presidential, DTEK and governor statements and no independent confirmation of damage. If a bridge falls, the Cabinet and military planners must reroute logistics and release crossing funds at once.
7 sources
  1. Zelenskyy says Russia is targeting power grid and bridges: It is trying to divide Ukraine along the Dnipro - LIGA.net
  2. Zelensky Says Russia Wants to Divide Ukraine Along Dnipro, Pledges State Resources to Frontline Regions - Kyiv Post
  3. Attack leaves large part of Dnipro and Kamianske without power after damage to energy facility equipment - Interfax-Ukraine
  4. Russia aims to split Ukraine along the Dnipro, Ukraine says. Moscow’s strikes cut power in Dnipro and Kamianske - Euromaidan Press
  5. Russian attacks trigger power outages in parts of Dnipro and Kamianske - Ukrinform
  6. Zelenskyy Just Got Handed a Fresh Wave of Strikes Before the Talks: He Says Moscow Is Trying to 'Divide Ukraine Along the Dnipro River' - National Security Journal
  7. Challenges posed by the Russian operation against bridges and the power grid discussed at the Stavka meeting - Office of the President of Ukraine

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