KYIV: On Monday, Russia unleashed approximately 200 missiles and drones on Ukraine, resulting in five deaths and significant damage to energy infrastructure across the country, Kyiv reported. The attacks caused power outages and water supply disruptions in several regions, including parts of Kyiv, as the assault targeted critical infrastructure in at least 10 areas.
This latest barrage is one of the most intense in recent weeks, following a pattern of heightened strikes on Ukraine’s power grid since March. This escalation appears aimed at degrading Ukraine’s infrastructure ahead of winter.
The attacks coincide with Ukraine’s ongoing cross-border incursion into Russia’s southern Kursk region, while Russian forces are making incremental advances in Ukraine’s east towards the key transport hub of Pokrovsk.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described the strikes as among the largest combined assaults, involving over a hundred missiles and about a hundred Shahed drones. He emphasized that these attacks, like previous ones, are targeted at civilian infrastructure.
In addition to the Ukrainian impact, Poland reported a potential drone incursion into its airspace, with searches ongoing. Polish officials suggest the object was most likely a drone based on its flight trajectory and speed.
Ukrainian regions affected include Rivne, Volyn, Khmelnytsk, Zhytomyr, Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa. Moldova, with its power grid linked to Ukraine’s, also experienced minor disruptions.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry confirmed that a hydropower plant in the Kyiv region was hit, with verified footage showing damage to a dam and a fire at the site. However, Kyiv region officials reported no critical damage to the dam.
The attack has intensified calls from Ukrainian officials for Western allies to provide long-range strike capabilities and support in defending against missile and drone attacks. Ukraine has developed various long-range attack drones, which have been used to strike targets deep within Russia.
Russia’s defense ministry claimed its strikes targeted key energy infrastructure supporting Ukraine’s military efforts, including power substations and gas compressor stations.
In the aftermath, explosions were reported in Lutsk and central Kyiv, with air defenses engaging incoming threats. The Ukrainian air force reported shooting down around 15 missiles and nearly 20 drones aimed at Kyiv. Both Russia and Ukraine maintain that their attacks are aimed at critical infrastructure, not civilians.
