Russia proved to the world that this statement is true by launching 67 missiles
No mesmo dia em que o Parlamento Europeu formalizou o que a guerra já havia tornado evidente — que a Rússia age como patrocinadora do terrorismo —, Moscovo lançou uma nova vaga de mísseis sobre a Ucrânia, matando um recém-nascido numa maternidade em Vilnyansk. A coincidência não foi acidental: foi uma demonstração. Nove meses após o início da invasão, a estratégia russa de destruir infraestruturas civis para dobrar a vontade ucraniana esbarra na mesma resistência que sempre encontrou, enquanto a Europa aperta, passo a passo, o cerco diplomático e económico a Moscovo.
- Um recém-nascido morreu e uma mãe ficou ferida quando mísseis russos atingiram uma maternidade em Vilnyansk — no mesmo dia em que a Europa votava para chamar à Rússia o que ela é.
- Com 494 votos a favor, o Parlamento Europeu aprovou uma resolução que designa a Rússia patrocinadora do terrorismo, desencadeando de imediato um ciberataque russo ao seu próprio sítio web.
- Moscovo admitiu abertamente que os bombardeamentos às infraestruturas energéticas visam forçar Kiev a negociar — mas conselheiros de Zelensky respondem que nove meses de guerra provam que o Kremlin não conhece a Ucrânia.
- A Ucrânia abateu 51 dos 70 mísseis lançados, mas os que passaram deixaram Kiev sem luz e sem água, e mataram pelo menos cinco pessoas na região da capital.
- Serviços de informação ocidentais estimam que a Rússia só tem capacidade para mais três ou quatro ataques desta escala — afirmação que Medvedev desmentiu numa visita a uma fábrica de armamento.
- A resolução europeia exige que cada Estado-membro aprove legislação própria sobre patrocínio do terrorismo e pede a inclusão do Grupo Wagner e das milícias chechenas na lista de organizações terroristas da UE.
No dia 23 de novembro, o Parlamento Europeu votou com 494 votos a favor para designar a Rússia patrocinadora estatal do terrorismo. Horas antes, mísseis russos tinham destruído uma maternidade em Vilnyansk, na região de Zaporizhzhia, matando um recém-nascido e ferindo a mãe e um médico. A coincidência era também uma mensagem. Moscovo respondeu à votação com um ciberataque ao sítio do Parlamento.
A estratégia russa tornara-se nítida ao longo de semanas: atacar centrais elétricas, redes de água e aquecimento para tornar a vida insuportável e pressionar Kiev — ou o Ocidente — a aceitar negociações. O próprio Kremlin o admitiu. Mas o conselheiro presidencial Mikhailo Podolyak foi direto: se Moscovo acredita que os cortes de energia farão os ucranianos pedir misericórdia, então, após nove meses de guerra, o Kremlin não sabe nada sobre a Ucrânia. O chefe de gabinete Andriy Yermak foi igualmente claro — nem Kiev nem os seus aliados cederão a essa pressão.
A resolução europeia foi além do simbolismo. Apelou a que cada Estado-membro aprovasse legislação nacional equivalente e pediu a inclusão do Grupo Wagner, dos Kadyrovtsy e de outras milícias russas na lista de organizações terroristas da UE. O texto de 18 pontos classificou os ataques a civis e a destruição de infraestruturas como atos de terror e crimes de guerra. Parlamentos da Polónia, Estónia, Letónia, Lituânia e República Checa já tinham aprovado declarações semelhantes.
No terreno, a ofensiva não parou. Uma vaga coordenada de mísseis de cruzeiro, lançados por bombardeiros e dois navios no Mar Negro, atingiu múltiplos pontos do país. A defesa antiaérea ucraniana abateu 51 dos 70 mísseis, mas os restantes foram suficientes para apagar a luz em quase toda Kiev e matar pelo menos cinco pessoas na região da capital. Zelensky resumiu a ironia sombria do dia: no momento em que a Europa condenou formalmente o terrorismo russo, a Rússia tratou de demonstrar ao mundo inteiro o que esse terrorismo significa.
On the same day the European Parliament formally designated Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, Moscow launched another massive missile barrage across Ukraine. The timing was not accidental. A newborn died when Russian bombs struck a maternity ward in Vilnyansk, in the Zaporizhzhia region. The mother and a doctor were wounded in the attack. Hours later, the Parliament voted 494 to 58, with 44 abstentions, to approve the symbolic but consequential resolution. The move irritated Moscow enough to trigger a cyberattack on the Parliament's website.
Nine months into what the Kremlin calls a "special military operation," the strategy has become clear: pummel Ukrainian infrastructure into submission. Cut the power. Cut the water. Make life unbearable. Force the government to negotiate, or force the West to pressure Ukraine into talks. The Kremlin admitted as much last week. But Ukrainian officials, watching their cities go dark for the fifth time in as many weeks, say Moscow still does not understand who it is fighting. "If the Kremlin truly believes that power failures will make Ukrainians overthrow their government and beg for mercy, then after nine months of war the Kremlin knows nothing about Ukraine," said Mikhailo Podolyak, an adviser to President Zelensky. The chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, was more blunt: Moscow wants to force Ukraine to negotiate, or force the West to force Ukraine to negotiate. Neither will happen, he suggested.
The European Parliament's resolution carried weight beyond symbolism. It called on each EU member state to pass its own legislation designating Russia a terrorism sponsor—a move that would tighten the economic and diplomatic noose further. The resolution also urged the European Council to add the Wagner mercenary group, the 141st Special Motorized Regiment from Chechnya (known as Kadyrovtsy), and other Russian militias to the terrorism list. The 18-point text was unsparing: it declared that Russian attacks on civilians, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law "constitute acts of terror against the Ukrainian population and constitute war crimes."
Yet the Parliament also reached toward Russian citizens, urging them to refuse conscription and protest the atrocities. The resolution emphasized the need for a historical and legal reckoning with Soviet crimes, noting that impunity only breeds repetition. Similar designations had already come from the parliaments of Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic, as well as from the Council of Europe, which expelled Russia in March.
On the ground, the assault continued without pause. In the early hours, Russian missiles and drones struck Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia. Then, in a coordinated wave, cruise missiles fired from bombers and two ships in the Black Sea targeted multiple locations across the country. Ukrainian air defenses claimed to have shot down 51 of 70 missiles and five drones, but enough got through. At least five people died in the Kyiv region alone. Nearly every power plant in the capital went offline. The city lost electricity and water.
Zelensky's response was swift. "The European Parliament recognized Russia as a state that sponsors terrorism. Finally, thank you to all the MEPs. And then Russia proved to the whole world that this statement is true by launching 67 missiles at our infrastructure, our energy system, and ordinary people." The president's words captured the grim irony: the moment Europe formally condemned Russian terrorism, Russia demonstrated exactly what it meant.
Western intelligence agencies believe Russia's precision missile stocks are running low. Ukrainian officials estimate Moscow can sustain only three or four more large-scale attacks of this scale. But Dmitri Medvedev, the former Russian president, visited a weapons factory and declared there is "enough for everyone," contradicting what he called the claims of "enemies." The question of how many more nights Ukrainians will spend in the dark, and whether the pressure will ever bend their will, remains unanswered. What is certain is that neither side shows signs of backing down.
Citas Notables
If the Kremlin truly believes that power failures will make Ukrainians overthrow their government and beg for mercy, then after nine months of war the Kremlin knows nothing about Ukraine— Mikhailo Podolyak, adviser to President Zelensky
The European Parliament recognized Russia as a state that sponsors terrorism. Finally, thank you to all the MEPs. And then Russia proved to the whole world that this statement is true by launching 67 missiles at our infrastructure, our energy system, and ordinary people— President Volodymyr Zelensky
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why does the European Parliament's designation matter if it's mostly symbolic?
Because symbols have teeth in diplomacy. Each EU member state now has cover to pass its own legislation, which means real sanctions, real restrictions on Russian assets and movement. It's the difference between saying something is wrong and making it costly to continue.
But Russia just launched missiles anyway. Doesn't that suggest the designation changed nothing?
It changed the conversation. Zelensky pointed out the timing—Europe calls Russia a terror state, Russia proves it within hours. That's not weakness on Europe's part. That's Russia confirming the charge in real time.
The Kremlin says it's targeting infrastructure to force negotiations. Is that actually working?
No. Ukrainian officials are explicit about this. They say nine months of war has shown Moscow fundamentally misreads Ukrainian resolve. Cutting power doesn't break will; it hardens it.
What about the human cost? A newborn killed in a maternity hospital—how does that fit into the larger strategy?
It doesn't fit into any strategy except terror. That's the point. The resolution calls these acts terrorism precisely because they target civilians with no military purpose. A maternity ward has no strategic value. It's meant to terrorize.
Western intelligence thinks Russia is running out of precision missiles. Does that change the calculus?
It means the window for these large-scale attacks is closing. Ukraine estimates three or four more are possible. After that, Russia's options narrow considerably. But three or four more nights without power is still three or four more nights.