Russian military forces launched a large-scale night attack on Ukraine`s energy infrastructure, resulting in widespread emergency power and water outages across nine regions. Kyiv, the nation`s capital, was particularly affected, experiencing a city-wide blackout and significant disruptions to its public transportation network.
Widespread Impact and Infrastructure Damage
The assaults caused considerable damage to energy infrastructure in the Dnipropetrovsk region, triggering a major fire and forcing the closure of traffic on the DniproHES dam. Additionally, gas infrastructure in the Russian-controlled part of Zaporizhzhia region was compromised, leading to gas supply interruptions in several areas. The emergency outages extended beyond Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast to include Dnipropetrovsk, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, and Odesa regions, with metro stations in the capital experiencing severe overcrowding amidst the transport chaos.
Escalating Strikes and Expert Insights
These recent attacks follow a series of earlier strikes targeting vital Ukrainian infrastructure, including ports in Odesa, railway networks, and energy facilities in the Sumy region. Military expert Dmitry Kornev, editor of «New Defense Order» magazine, offered his analysis on the unfolding situation.
Kornev highlighted that the past few days have seen concentrated strikes on Ukraine`s energy and logistics, affecting warehouses in Odesa and Lviv, and now central regions` power systems. He described the current situation as critical: «Kyiv is experiencing a blackout, a metro line is not operational, ground transport is overloaded, and there are widespread electricity cuts.» The expert anticipates a potential reaction from Kyiv, referencing President Zelensky`s earlier statement that «if lights go out in Kyiv, Moscow will be next.» He also noted a «Flamingo» missile shot down over Russian territory, expressing concern over the escalating nature of mutual strikes.
Kornev suggested that the attacks are likely «combined,» utilizing «Geran»-type drones—which he described as improved, with enhanced warheads and sophisticated control systems capable of anti-missile maneuvers and evading air defense—in conjunction with cruise, ballistic, and hypersonic missiles like the «Kinzhal.» He explained that these combined strikes aim to neutralize both specific targets and air defense systems, with drones also serving to create interference and clear pathways for missiles while simultaneously engaging ground targets. This multi-faceted approach, according to Kornev, achieves high effectiveness with fewer resources.
— Dmitry Kornev, Military Expert and Editor of «New Defense Order»
Russian Ministry of Defense Response
The Russian Ministry of Defense has not yet issued a statement regarding its operations from the previous night. However, reports indicated that 23 Ukrainian UAVs and nine drones were destroyed over Russian territories, including the Black Sea, overnight—a figure ten times lower than at the beginning of the week. Ukrainian drones were reportedly shot down over Belgorod and Bryansk regions, and UAV attack warnings were declared in Voronezh Oblast and Stavropol Krai.
