Russia launched what Ukrainian officials described as the largest strike on the country's energy infrastructure since spring, with Kyiv and at least 10 other regions hit overnight. At least six people were killed and 33 injured, including a child found in Kyiv region rubble. The attacks caused power outages across several regions; DTEK restored about 8,000 homes while Ukrenergo urged residents to limit use of high-power appliances during daytime hours. Kyiv woke to heavy smoke and ongoing air-raid alerts as authorities assess widespread damage.
Russia Launches Biggest Attack On Ukraine's Power Grid Since Spring — Kyiv Among Main Targets
[Kyiv State Emergency Service]
Russia has carried out what Ukrainian officials called the largest attack on the country's energy infrastructure since spring, with Kyiv and surrounding areas among the primary targets, Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi said.
Deadly Overnight Strikes
Officials reported that at least six people were killed and 33 others injured across Ukraine during the overnight assault, including a child whose body was recovered from rubble in the Kyiv region. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said three people died in the capital, including a utility worker killed at a warehouse; it was not immediately clear whether the child counted among those three.
Power Disruptions And Repairs
The strikes disrupted electricity supplies in several regions. DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, said it had restored power to about 8,000 homes after "a difficult night" for the capital. State grid operator Ukrenergo warned that supplies were below normal and advised residents to avoid using high-power appliances between 10:00 and 16:00 local time to reduce load on the system.
Targets And Damage
Moscow's defence ministry said one objective was the Trypilska power station, which it described as the main electricity supplier for Kyiv; Ukrainian officials have not confirmed this claim. Prime Minister Koretskyi said the strikes hit 11 regions, damaging residential buildings, social infrastructure, civilian enterprises and railways. President Volodymyr Zelensky reported attacks on critical infrastructure in the Zhytomyr, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad and Rivne regions.
Acrid smoke obscured views over Kyiv on Wednesday [AFP via Getty Images]
"Since the summer, there has effectively not been a single day without enemy attacks on our energy infrastructure," Koretskyi wrote on Telegram. "However, a mass and combined attack of this scale has occurred for the first time since the end of the last heating season."
Kyiv: Smoke, Alerts And Recovery
Kyiv woke under a heavy, acrid smoke haze after a night punctuated by explosions. Air-raid alerts remained in effect and distant air-defence fire echoed across the city; residents in several districts were urged to keep windows closed until the smoke cleared.
Regional governors reported additional casualties: two people killed in the north-eastern Sumy region, Governor Oleh Hryhorov said, and one person killed in the Mykolaiv region, acting governor Heorhiy Reshetilov said.
Context
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since then, Russia has mounted repeated winter campaigns targeting energy and civilian infrastructure; Moscow currently controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.
The situation remains fluid as emergency crews continue repairs and investigations into the scope of the damage and the civilian toll.
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