A large-scale Russian missile and drone assault struck Ukraine on Saturday, targeting critical power infrastructure across the country, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The attack, which killed at least 10 people, impacted several regions, including Kyiv, Donetsk, Lviv, and Odesa.
In a statement on Telegram, Zelensky reported that approximately 120 missiles and 90 drones were launched during the attack. The country’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, said the assault specifically targeted “peaceful cities,” “sleeping civilians,” and “critical infrastructure.”
Ukraine’s largest private energy provider, DTEK, reported significant damage to its thermal energy plants, resulting in widespread emergency blackouts. The DTEK group revealed that this was the eighth large-scale attack on Ukraine’s energy grid this year and the 190th attack on its plants since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022. Authorities fear this latest assault signals another Russian attempt to cripple Ukraine’s power grid as winter approaches, potentially leading to a challenging winter for millions.
The governor of Odesa, Oleh Kiper, confirmed that the attack had disrupted both heat and water supplies. While water services were gradually being restored, hospitals and other essential services in the region relied on backup generators to continue operations.
Further east, Mykolaiv was also hit by the missile and drone strikes, though the city’s regional leader, Vitaliy Kim, stated that local residents remained resilient. “People are in good shape and want to defend themselves,” Kim said. “We do not want to lose our homes.”
In Kyiv, some missile and drone fragments fell in various areas, though no injuries were reported. The assault came just two weeks after a similar attack in early September and has left residents across Ukraine bracing for more strikes as the harsh winter sets in.
Poland, which borders Ukraine to the west, heightened its security measures following the attacks. The Polish Operational Command announced that fighter jets had been deployed to patrol the country’s airspace as a precautionary step against the threat of further Russian missile strikes. Hungary, which borders Ukraine and Poland, was also placed on alert after drone strikes hit its westernmost region, about 12 miles from the Ukrainian border.
Meanwhile, as both Ukraine and Russia await the policies of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, there are growing concerns in Kyiv about potential shifts in U.S. support. Trump has expressed his intention to end the war in Ukraine, though he has not specified how he plans to do so. Since the war’s beginning, the U.S. has been Ukraine’s largest supplier of military aid, contributing over $55 billion in weapons and equipment.
In the face of these uncertain developments, Ukrainian leaders, including Zelensky, remain focused on resisting Russian advances. However, as diplomatic efforts continue, the conflict’s future remains uncertain, with both sides anticipating how global politics, including the incoming U.S. administration, may influence the war’s outcome.
