ع
President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russian forces launched 39 ballistic missiles and more than 120 attack drones and loitering munitions against energy and critical infrastructure facilities in Kyiv, the Kyiv region and Kharkiv overnight. The Ukrainian leader stated that the assault damaged equipment at 26 sites in the power system and four in the oil and gas sector, according to his post on X. Zelensky described the strike as a targeted ballistic attack on infrastructure covered by the energy ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump on October 12, calling it a demonstrative act of disrespect toward the United States. Ukrainian air defences intercepted four of the missiles and 115 drones, the air force reported.
In Kyiv, at least three people were killed and 21 others injured by the strikes, Ukraine’s state emergencies service said. Zelensky noted that fatalities and injuries had occurred across the affected areas while warning that the scale of power outages could grow beyond the initial 600,000 households now without electricity. Energy workers and emergency crews have begun repairs at the impact sites, he added in his update. Russia’s defence ministry claimed its overnight operation struck communications and energy facilities used by the Ukrainian military in the same regions.
The strikes follow Trump’s social media announcement that an energy ceasefire between the two sides had taken effect immediately, a claim Zelensky has said Ukraine was prepared to observe if Russia reciprocated by halting attacks on power facilities. According to the Ukrainian president, Moscow’s actions demonstrate that it does not take American statements seriously and rejects opportunities for de-escalation. Zelensky called for a forceful international response, including stronger sanctions and additional air-defence systems such as Patriots.
An International Energy Agency assessment found that Ukraine’s dispatchable power generation capacity fell from roughly 38 gigawatts before the 2022 full-scale invasion to about one-third of that level after successive Russian attacks on thermal, hydro and other assets. The IEA report noted more than 3,100 disruptions to the power sector between March and September 2025 alone, with attacks intensifying ahead of winter in a seasonal pattern. Ukrainian officials have restored some capacity through repairs, yet the system remains vulnerable as peak winter demand approaches 18 gigawatts.
The World Bank estimated direct damage to Ukraine’s electricity sector at more than 11 billion dollars as of mid-2024, covering generation facilities and transmission networks, in its latest rapid damage and needs assessment. That figure has continued to rise with subsequent strikes, the assessment indicated. The bank highlighted that repeated targeting of energy infrastructure has compounded socioeconomic impacts, including rolling blackouts that affect households, hospitals and industry across the country.
Zelensky expressed gratitude to repair crews, energy workers and State Emergency Service personnel for their efforts to mitigate the latest damage. He urged America and the international community not to ignore the reality of the attacks, according to his statement. The incident marks the latest in a series of Russian operations against Ukrainian energy sites that have reduced available capacity and forced reliance on imports and decentralised generation solutions promoted by the IEA.
