Russian Missile Barrage Hits Ukraine’s Energy Grid, Killing One and Injuring Dozens Ahead of Winter

 

By Emmaculate Cheruto 

A massive Russian drone and missile assault on Friday triggered widespread blackouts across Ukraine, killed a child in the southeast, and injured at least 20 people in the capital, Kyiv. Ukrainian officials described the strikes as one of the most intense coordinated attacks on the nation’s civilian and energy infrastructure since the war began.

In Kyiv, rescue crews raced to evacuate more than 20 residents from a high-rise apartment complex after the sixth and seventh floors were engulfed in flames. Five people were hospitalized, while others were treated on the scene for injuries.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the assault on social media, stating that Russia had deliberately targeted Ukraine’s energy facilities as the country braces for plummeting winter temperatures.

“It is precisely the civilian and energy infrastructure that is the main target of Russia’s strikes ahead of the heating season,” Zelenskyy said. “Together, we can protect people from this terror. What is needed is not window dressing but decisive action from the United States, Europe, and the G7 in delivering air defense systems and enforcing sanctions.”

Zelenskyy urged world leaders, including those in the G20, to respond firmly: “The world can defend itself against these crimes, and doing so will undoubtedly strengthen global security.”

Prime Minister Yuliia Svyydenko called Friday’s attack one of the most concentrated assaults on Ukraine’s energy network to date. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 465 drone and decoy drone strikes alongside 32 missiles of varying types in the onslaught.

The barrage left parts of nine Ukrainian regions in darkness. In Kyiv alone, more than 2 million residents briefly lost access to water, according to Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba. Power has since been restored to approximately 270,000 customers in the capital, according to Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk, though the full extent of the outages remains unclear.

Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s power grid each fall in an apparent effort to undermine civilian morale and cripple infrastructure ahead of harsh winters. The latest attack renews fears of energy instability and humanitarian strain during the coming months.

The energy sector remains a critical front in the ongoing war, with Ukrainian officials pleading for international assistance to bolster the country’s air defense systems before colder weather tightens its grip.

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This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.