Kyiv reported 74 Russian attacks overnight, including a barrage of seven missiles and 67 drones, escalating aerial assaults as winter approaches. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted a significant portion of the incoming projectiles, but the sustained attacks are raising concerns about the resilience of the nation’s energy infrastructure and the potential for widespread blackouts.
The renewed intensity of Russian strikes mirrors patterns from previous winters,when deliberate targeting of Ukraine‘s power grid left millions without electricity for extended periods. This latest wave of attacks comes as temperatures drop and Ukraine prepares for a perhaps harsh winter, increasing the vulnerability of civilians and critical infrastructure. Technicians are working to restore power, but Ukrenergo, the state utility, anticipates electricity cuts of eight to 16 hours daily in most regions while repairs continue and option energy sources are deployed.Russia’s Defense Ministry asserted its forces targeted “companies of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex and the gas and energy facilities that support their operations.” The claims have not been independently verified.
The attacks are prompting international concern, with officials denouncing ”unacceptable risks” to nuclear security in Europe and calling for an urgent meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). A street in downtown Kharkiv, Ukraine, was darkened by the strikes on November 8, 2025 (VYACHESLAV MADIYEVSKYY/REUTERS).
