Russian drone and missile strikes injured over 20 individuals in Kyiv and caused damage to residential buildings, resulting in power outages across various parts of Ukraine early Friday, as confirmed by authorities. Tragically, a child lost their life in separate incidents in the southeast region of the country.
In the heart of Kyiv, emergency teams rescued more than 20 people from a 17-story apartment complex engulfed in flames on the sixth and seventh floors. Five individuals were taken to hospitals, while others received immediate medical attention on-site, according to official reports.
Witnesses described the chaos and destruction caused by the sudden strikes. Tetiana Lemishevska, a 61-year-old resident, recalled the harrowing experience of the attack, which shattered windows and spread flames rapidly throughout the building.
Ukraine’s air force disclosed that the recent Russian assault involved 465 drones for strikes and decoys, along with 32 missiles of diverse kinds. Air defenses successfully intercepted or disrupted 405 drones and 15 missiles, preventing further damage.
In the Zaporizhzhia region in the southeast, residential areas and energy facilities were heavily targeted by attack drones, missiles, and guided bombs, resulting in the tragic death of a seven-year-old child and injuries to several others. As a precautionary measure, a hydroelectric plant in the area was shut down.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the deliberate targeting of civilian and energy infrastructure by the Russian strikes, particularly as Ukraine braced for the approaching winter season. Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko emphasized the severity of the assault, labeling it as one of the most concentrated strikes against Ukraine’s energy facilities.
The assault led to power outages in Kyiv and surrounding regions, impacting crucial areas such as Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Cherkasy. Repair efforts were swiftly initiated, with Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reporting widespread power disruptions in the city.
The energy sector has emerged as a primary battleground since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia has historically targeted Ukraine’s power grid before the harsh winter months to undermine public morale, with the coldest period spanning from January to February.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, during his visit to Lviv in western Ukraine, expressed Poland’s commitment to aiding its eastern neighbor with additional electricity supplies. He condemned the attacks as a deliberate escalation to intimidate the population ahead of the winter season.
Amid the escalating tensions, Russia accused Ukraine of targeting its energy facilities. Notably, on Thursday, the governor of Russia’s Volograd region alleged that Ukraine carried out drone attacks causing fires at energy sites, although specific details were not provided.