KYIV: Large swathes of Ukraine were left without electricity and water early Friday as Russia launched another wave of drone and missile attacks on the country’s critical energy infrastructure, intensifying its assault as winter looms. The strikes, among the most extensive in recent weeks, plunged much of the capital, Kyiv, into darkness and disrupted vital public services, including the metro line that crosses the Dnipro River.
Ukrainian officials said the attacks targeted multiple regions, cutting off power in at least nine areas and leaving more than one million homes and businesses temporarily without electricity. Emergency crews worked through the night to restore essential services as temperatures dropped across the country.
In southeastern Ukraine, a seven-year-old boy was killed when a missile struck his home, while at least 20 others were injured in various regions, according to local authorities. In Kyiv, debris from an intercepted missile damaged an apartment block in the city center, shattering windows and setting fire to several floors. On the left bank of the Dnipro River, metro services were suspended, forcing thousands of commuters to rely on buses. Residents queued at emergency water points to fill containers after water supplies were disrupted.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the strikes as a deliberate attempt by Moscow to weaponize winter and exhaust Ukraine’s population. “They can’t demonstrate anything real on the battlefield, so they will attack our energy sector,” Zelenskiy told reporters in Kyiv. He added that Ukraine’s 203 major energy facilities now required urgent air defense protection, warning that Russia’s campaign aimed to cripple the nation’s infrastructure ahead of the cold season.
“The blow is strong, but it is definitely not fatal,” the Ukrainian leader said, emphasizing that the country’s resilience remained unbroken. Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk met with G7 ambassadors and representatives from Ukraine’s largest power companies to coordinate international assistance for repairs and defense against future strikes.
Ukraine’s air force reported that it had intercepted 405 out of 465 drones and 15 of 32 missiles launched overnight — a success rate that nonetheless failed to prevent significant damage. Zelenskiy said Russia had timed the attack to coincide with poor weather conditions that reduced the efficiency of Ukrainian air defenses by 20 to 30 percent.
Moscow claimed responsibility for the strikes, saying they were retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilian targets, including oil depots and military infrastructure. While Ukraine has conducted limited drone raids deep into Russian territory, Kyiv insists its operations target military sites and are aimed at pressuring Moscow to negotiate an end to the war.
The renewed assault underscores Russia’s strategy of striking civilian infrastructure to break Ukraine’s resistance during the harsh winter months. As the war approaches its fourth year, the destruction of energy facilities threatens to leave millions in darkness and cold, testing both Ukraine’s endurance and the international community’s continued support.
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