Russian Strikes Leave Kyiv in Darkness Amid Escalating Energy Assault

he charred exterior of an apartment building that was set ablaze during Russian drone and missile strikes on the capital.

Overnight Russian drone and missile attacks plunged large parts of Kyiv into darkness, striking critical energy infrastructure and residential areas. According to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, at least a dozen people were injured, with several hospitalized, as explosions damaged apartment buildings and disrupted water supplies across the capital.

The strikes also sparked fires in high-rise buildings, forcing emergency crews to battle blazes through the night. Ukraine’s Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk confirmed that power facilities were deliberately targeted, leaving tens of thousands without electricity. Repair teams are working under difficult conditions to restore services.

In the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, the assault proved even more tragic: a seven-year-old child was killed and several others injured when drones and missiles hit residential blocks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of attempting to “create chaos and apply psychological pressure” by crippling the country’s energy grid as winter approaches. The latest wave of strikes underscores Russia’s intensified campaign against Ukraine’s infrastructure, raising fears of prolonged blackouts and humanitarian strain in the months ahead.