Up to a million Ukrainians have been left without electricity due to a massive missile and drone attack by Russia targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure. During the night on Thursday and into the morning, several cities and regions were struck; explosions were reported in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Lutsk, and Rivne. Air raid alerts lasted for 9.5 hours.
The Ukrainian air defense reported intercepting 176 missiles and drones out of 188. President Volodymyr Zelensky clarified that Moscow specifically aimed at energy infrastructure. He mentioned that several regions were attacked with cluster munitions, complicating the efforts of rescue workers and energy specialists to mitigate the aftermath of the strikes. Zelensky described this as part of a "despicable escalation" of Russia's tactics.
Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko confirmed that as a result of the "massive strike" on the country's energy system, "Ukrenergo," the state operator, announced emergency shutdowns.
Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine's energy system with the onset of cold weather; this marks the third winter that Ukrainians are enduring under conditions of full-scale aggression.
Andriy Yermak, head of the President's Office of Ukraine, wrote on his Telegram channel: "The Russians stockpiled missiles for strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, for war against civilians during the cold winter, with the help of insane allies, particularly North Korea."
According to Oleksandr Koval, head of the Rivne regional military administration, more than 280,000 households in the northwestern region were left without electricity. The affected areas are also experiencing disruptions in water supply. Some schools in Rivne have been instructed to conduct classes remotely on Thursday.
In the neighboring Volyn region, 215,000 households are without electricity, according to the head of the administration, Ivan Rudnytsky. All critical infrastructure facilities, he specified, have been switched to generators.
Local authorities have ordered the opening of "points of invincibility" - shelters where people can charge their phones and other devices and warm up.