In brief
Russian forces unleashed their largest strike on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to date, hitting the capital Kyiv and several outlying regions in a coordinated overnight raid. At least five civilians, including a child, were killed and the Trypilska power plant sustained damage, cutting power to thousands of homes. Ukraine’s energy ministry reported outages across multiple regions and urged residents to limit heavy appliance use. Russian defence officials claimed they intercepted over 380 drones, while Ukraine’s military boasted of counter‑attacks against Russian facilities. This incident underscores the escalating strategy of crippling Ukraine’s infrastructure during the ongoing conflict.
Russia carried out its largest overnight strike on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since spring, hitting Kyiv and the surrounding region. Prime Minister Oleksiy Danilov said the attack was aimed at critical power supplies.
At least five civilians were killed, including a child in the Kyiv region, according to the regional governor Timur Tkachenko. Residents woke to thick smoke and the sound of explosions.
The attack damaged the Trypilska thermal power plant, the biggest supplier of electricity to Kyiv, as confirmed by its operator Centrenergо. Power was restored to about 8,000 homes in the capital after the night.
Ukraine’s energy ministry said that households in Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Sumy and Kharkiv remained without electricity for parts of the day, with state grid operator Ukrenergo advising residents to avoid heavy appliances between 10:00 and 16:00 local time.
Russian defence officials claimed the strikes targeted the power plant and other facilities, while Ukraine said it intercepted over 380 drones over several regions, including Moscow.
The bombardment reflected a growing pattern in the conflict, with each winter after 2022 the attackers striking Ukraine's energy grid. Despite intermittent losses, Ukraine’s Third Army Corps has retaken key settlements in the Donetsk region in a counter‑offensive dubbed Operation Vivaldi.
While the front line remains largely stagnant, the attack on Kyiv highlights Russia’s continued focus on crippling Ukraine’s power and infrastructure as a strategic objective.
