Russia has launched a significant assault on Ukraine, firing approximately 200 missiles and drones that resulted in at least five deaths and extensive damage to critical infrastructure across the country. The Ukrainian government reported that the attacks struck energy facilities in at least ten regions, leading to widespread power cuts and water supply outages, including in parts of Kyiv.
The barrage of strikes marks a notable escalation in Russia’s campaign against Ukraine’s power grid, which intensified in March. This latest assault, described by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as one of the largest combined strikes, involved over 100 missiles and about 100 Shahed drones. Zelensky criticized the attacks for targeting crucial civilian infrastructure, exacerbating the challenges Ukraine faces as it heads into the winter months.
In addition to the destruction within Ukraine, neighboring NATO member Poland reported a possible breach of its airspace by a drone. Jacek Goryszewski, spokesperson for the Polish army’s operational command, indicated that the object, which likely was a drone, may have landed on Polish territory. Polish authorities are currently investigating the incident.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed that the missile and drone attacks affected 15 Ukrainian regions, with significant damage reported in areas including Rivne, Volyn, Khmelnytsk, Zhytomyr, Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa. Moldova, which shares a power grid link with Ukraine, also experienced minor disruptions.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry reported that a hydropower plant in the Kyiv region was among the targets, with social media videos verifying damage to a dam and a fire at the plant. Despite the damage, Kyiv region governor Ruslan Kravchenko assured that there was no critical harm to the dam itself.
The attacks have resulted in casualties across various regions, including a 69-year-old man in Dnipropetrovsk and another man in Zaporizhzhia. Additional deaths occurred in Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, and Volyn. In Lutsk, an apartment block was damaged, and explosions were also reported in central Kyiv, with air defenses intercepting incoming projectiles.
According to Ukraine’s air force, the strikes involved 11 TU-95 strategic bombers and other weaponry. Kyiv’s military administration reported shooting down approximately 15 missiles and nearly 20 drones targeting the capital.
Both Russia and Ukraine have denied intentionally targeting civilians, with each side maintaining that their strikes are aimed at critical infrastructure supporting the other’s military operations.