Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia should not underestimate Kyiv’s response to its threats, including potential winter blackouts. 

Since the start of the war in 2022, Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy grid, aiming to disrupt electricity supplies especially during winter months. Large-scale strikes have left millions of Ukrainians without power, forcing blackouts and emergency measures to keep essential services running. These attacks have been widely condemned as deliberate attempts to terrorize civilians.

Speaking at a press conference on 27 September, he said that if Moscow targets Ukrainian cities like Kyiv, the Kremlin should expect similar measures in Russian cities.

“If Russia sets the goal of causing blackouts in Ukraine, and does so every winter, I am not sure that the response from us and our partners should be any different,” Zelenskyy said.

“Civilized countries never start first and are not aggressors, but this does not mean they are weak,” he added. 

His comments underscore Ukraine’s determination to push back against Russian intimidation and reflect ongoing calls for Western support, including long-range weapons, to bolster the country’s defenses.

Ukraine has been steadily expanding its long-range strike capabilities with home-grown missile and drone systems, some capable of reaching deep into Russian territory. Moscow lies roughly 500 kilometers from the closest points of the Ukrainian border, putting it within range of certain weapons that Kyiv now possesses. 

Zelenskyy’s warning serves both as a deterrent and as a reminder that Ukraine is increasingly able to respond to attacks on its civilian infrastructure, reinforcing the message that aggression against Ukraine will not go unanswered.