Russian forces launched a large overnight drone-and-missile strike that Ukrainian officials say hit energy infrastructure across the country, killing two and wounding six. Authorities reported 458 drones and 45 missiles were fired, with Ukraine intercepting most but not all. The strikes caused power and water outages in cities including Dnipro, Kharkiv and Kremenchuk and raised fears of heating shortages ahead of winter. Kyiv warns prolonged outages at key plants during extreme cold could trigger a "technological disaster."
Major Russian Drone and Missile Strike Damages Ukraine's Energy Network, Kills Two; Widespread Power and Heat Disruptions
Russian forces launched a large overnight drone-and-missile strike that Ukrainian officials say hit energy infrastructure across the country, killing two and wounding six. Authorities reported 458 drones and 45 missiles were fired, with Ukraine intercepting most but not all. The strikes caused power and water outages in cities including Dnipro, Kharkiv and Kremenchuk and raised fears of heating shortages ahead of winter. Kyiv warns prolonged outages at key plants during extreme cold could trigger a "technological disaster."
18:20, 08.11.2025Conflict
Russian Attack Strikes Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure
A large-scale Russian assault overnight targeted Ukraine's energy network and civilian infrastructure, killing two people and causing power, water and heating disruptions across multiple regions, Ukrainian officials said.
Scale of the attack. The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched 458 drones and 45 missiles; Ukrainian forces said they shot down 406 drones and nine missiles. Despite the high interception rate, strikes caused significant damage to energy facilities and essential services.
Human toll and local impact. A drone strike in the eastern city of Dnipro tore through a nine‑storey residential building, killing two people and wounding six, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said. Emergency power cuts and interruptions to water supplies were reported in Kharkiv, while residents of Kremenchuk (Poltava region) faced total electricity and water outages and only partial heating.
Infrastructure and transport. Restoration Minister Oleksiy Kuleba reported major train delays and accused Russian forces of intensifying attacks on locomotive depots, hampering rail services and logistics. Drones also struck energy facilities near Odesa late Friday, causing damage though no casualties were reported.
Strategic context and warnings. Officials say Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's power and heating grid during nearly four years of conflict, damaging a large portion of civilian energy infrastructure. Kyiv's School of Economics estimates the strikes have taken roughly half of Ukraine's natural gas production offline. Energy expert Oleksandr Kharchenko warned that if Kyiv's two main power-and-heat plants remain offline for more than three days when temperatures drop below -10°C, the capital could face a "technological disaster."
Russia's defence ministry said its strikes targeted "enterprises of the Ukrainian military‑industrial complex and gas and energy facilities that support their operation." In response, Ukraine has stepped up strikes on Russian oil depots and refineries in recent months to curtail Moscow's energy revenues and pressure its fuel logistics.
Officials in southern Russia also reported disruptions: drone attacks damaged energy infrastructure in the Volgograd region, causing local power cuts, Governor Andrei Botcharov said.
"Russian strikes once again targeted people's everyday life. They deprived communities of power, water, and heating, destroyed critical infrastructure, and damaged railway networks," Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said.
Authorities in Ukraine say they are working nationwide to restore heat, electricity and water as winter approaches and warn that prolonged damage to key facilities could have severe humanitarian consequences.