Early Friday morning, a relentless wave of Russian drone and missile strikes swept across Ukraine, leaving a trail of destruction. Authorities confirmed that at least 20 individuals were wounded in Kyiv, where residential buildings suffered severe damage and vast areas experienced widespread power outages. Tragically, a child was also reported killed in separate attacks that rocked the southeastern parts of the nation.
In the very heart of the Ukrainian capital, emergency responders worked tirelessly to evacuate over 20 residents from a towering 17-story apartment building. The structure was ablaze, with flames consuming the sixth and seventh floors. While five individuals required hospitalisation, many others received immediate first aid on site.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks on social media, highlighting that the Russian strikes deliberately aimed at civilian and critical energy infrastructure, occurring precisely as Ukraine braces for the onset of harsh winter temperatures.
Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko further underscored the severity of the assault, characterizing it as ‘one of the largest concentrated strikes’ specifically targeting Ukraine’s vital energy infrastructure.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that Friday’s extensive attack caused widespread power outages across both banks of the Dnipro River, effectively splitting the city into darkness. DTEK, Ukraine’s largest electricity operator, reported that repair efforts were immediately launched at several damaged thermal power plants.
Indeed, the energy sector has remained a critical strategic target and battleground since Russia initiated its full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Historically, Russia has consistently attempted to incapacitate Ukraine’s power grid ahead of the brutal winter season, a tactic aimed at undermining public morale. Ukraine typically experiences its coldest months in January and February, with winter stretching from late October to March.
According to Ukraine’s air force, the recent Russian onslaught involved a massive deployment of 465 strike and decoy drones, alongside 32 missiles of various capabilities. Impressively, Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted or jammed 405 drones and 15 missiles.
Further south, in the Zaporizhzhia region, military administration officials reported that residential neighborhoods and energy facilities were relentlessly struck by attack drones, missiles, and guided bombs. The tragic result was the death of a 7-year-old boy and injuries to his parents and several other individuals. As a precautionary measure, a local hydroelectric plant was temporarily taken offline.