Russia Launches Massive Attack on Ukrainian Energy Sector, Zelensky Urges Defense boost
KYIV, Ukraine – Russia unleashed a massive combined attack on UkraineS critical infrastructure overnight from Friday to saturday, targeting the energy sector with an unprecedented barrage of missiles and drones. Ukrainian officials report 503 air attack means were used – 45 missiles,including 32 ballistic missiles,and 458 drones,approximately 300 of which were Shaheds. The attack caused widespread damage, casualties, and power outages across multiple regions.
This assault represents one of the most severe attacks on Ukraine’s energy system since the beginning of the war,according to Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Energy artem nekrasov,who highlighted the difficulty in intercepting the ballistic missiles employed. The strikes focused primarily on the Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Poltava oblasts, resulting in 26 missile and 52 drone hits across 25 locations. While Ukrainian air defense forces downed 415 targets – 406 drones and nine missiles – the impact was important.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko reported two women were killed and 12 injured after a Russian strike hit a residential building in Dnipro, destroying apartments in two staircases of a nine-story building. Additionally, one person was killed in the Kharkiv oblast. Several large energy facilities in the Poltava, Kharkiv, and Kyiv oblasts sustained damage.
“Russia once again deliberately attacked energy infrastructure,” Svyrydenko stated, adding that the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Advancement, regional administrations, and local authorities are coordinating repair efforts with municipal services and the State Emergency Situations Service.
Amidst the escalating attacks,Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for strengthening the country’s air defense capabilities. He emphasized the urgent need for additional air defense systems and interceptors to protect critical infrastructure and civilian populations.
Recent developments also include a court case involving the wife of a fallen Russian soldier, where debt forgiveness was granted to her family – a first-of-its-kind verdict. Additionally, earlier in September, Russian forces struck a military unit with Iskander missiles, resulting in casualties and injuries.
