Russian strikes trigger emergency power cuts across Kyiv region
Ukrainian officials reported seven deaths and damage to energy facilities in several regions after a large combined attack involving drones and a ballistic missile.
Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure prompted emergency power cuts in Kyiv and three surrounding regions on Wednesday, according to grid operator Ukrenergo. Ukrainian officials reported seven people killed, including a child, and damage to facilities across several regions.
The outages disrupted some tram and trolleybus services in the capital, while Kyiv’s water utility reported reduced pressure. The full extent of the damage and its lasting effects on power and water supplies were not yet clear.
Ukraine’s air force said air defences intercepted 254 of 285 Russian drones. It also reported a ballistic missile attack. President Volodymyr Zelensky said critical infrastructure was attacked in five regions.
Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi described the assault as the largest combined strike on energy sites since the end of the last heating season. The attack comes as authorities prepare for a difficult winter; Russian strikes damaged power and heating systems last winter, and Ukraine has been preparing backup systems and protective facilities.
Russia said its forces struck power plants in the Kyiv region, an industrial complex in Odesa region and port infrastructure in the southwest. Russia denies targeting civilians. The casualty and damage figures cited by Ukrainian officials have not been independently verified in the supplied reporting.
