Russian forces launched a devastating overnight assault on Ukrainian energy facilities, killing at least four civilians and causing widespread damage to critical infrastructure across multiple regions.
Massive Aerial Assault on Civilian Areas
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia fired more than 450 drones and 45 missiles during the coordinated attacks, with Ukrainian air defences successfully intercepting most of the incoming projectiles. The assault represents one of the largest aerial bombardments in recent months.
In the city of Dnipro, a Russian drone struck a residential apartment building, resulting in three fatalities and twelve injuries. Emergency services worked tirelessly to rescue survivors from the damaged structure. Separately, another civilian lost their life in the Kharkiv region during the bombardment.
Critical Infrastructure Targeted Before Winter
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed that energy infrastructure in Kyiv, Poltava and Kharkiv regions suffered significant damage from the strikes. Energy companies immediately began restoration efforts to repair electricity, water and heating systems affected by the attacks.
Several cities resorted to emergency measures to maintain essential services. In the central Poltava region, municipalities in Kremenchuk and Horishni Plavni deployed generators to keep water supply systems operational amid the widespread power outages.
International Response and Escalating Conflict
President Zelenskyy called for immediate strengthened sanctions against Russia following the attacks, emphasising that every strike on energy infrastructure demands a sanctions response targeting all Russian energy sectors without exceptions.
The attacks form part of an escalating pattern of energy infrastructure targeting by both sides. According to state energy firm Naftogaz, Russian forces have attacked Ukrainian gas facilities nine times in the past two months alone.
Meanwhile, Russia claimed its massive strike targeted Ukrainian weapons production and energy facilities, while also announcing the capture of a village in eastern Ukraine as fighting continues along the frontline.
International efforts to broker peace have stalled, with former NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen warning that Ukraine faces a forever war unless Europe increases pressure on Russia. The conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, remains the largest and deadliest war in Europe since the Second World War.
