Russia Launches Major Missile Strikes on Ukraine’s Power Grid, Killing Two
Kyiv reports one of the year’s largest coordinated attacks as Moscow targets power plants and residential areas across nine regions
Kyiv, Oct 31 — Russia unleashed a large-scale missile and drone offensive across Ukraine on Thursday, targeting energy infrastructure and residential areas, killing at least two people and injuring several others, including children, France 24 reported.
The widespread assault caused major power disruptions across multiple regions, marking one of the largest single attacks on Ukraine’s energy network this year.
Nationwide Strikes on Power Facilities
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces struck energy facilities and civilian targets in nine regions, including the capital, Kyiv.
“We count on America, Europe, and the G7 not to ignore Moscow’s intent to destroy everything,” Zelensky said on social media, urging tougher sanctions against Russia.
Ukraine’s largest private energy provider, DTEK, confirmed severe damage to several power plants.
“It’s a bad blow in our efforts to keep power flowing this winter,” said DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko.
In Lviv, near the Polish border, authorities reported that two energy facilities were hit, while the Energy Ministry said a “significant number of consumers” were left without electricity, without specifying figures.
Ukraine Intercepts Hundreds of Drones
According to Ukraine’s air force, the Russian barrage included 52 missiles and 653 drones, of which 623 were intercepted. Despite the successful defenses, debris and direct hits caused widespread damage.
In Zaporizhzhia, two people were killed and 17 others injured, including six children, local officials confirmed.
Moscow Confirms ‘Massive’ Strike
Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed responsibility for the “massive” operation, saying it targeted military-industrial facilities, airbases, and energy infrastructure.
Moscow also asserted that its air defenses shot down 170 Ukrainian drones, including 48 over Bryansk and nine near Moscow.
Additionally, Russia claimed its troops had captured two villages Sadove in the Kharkiv region and Krasnogirske in Zaporizhzhia, both areas Moscow claims to have annexed.
Winter Energy War Intensifies
Since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s power grid, particularly in winter, forcing Kyiv to ration electricity and rely on energy imports.
Ukraine has increasingly retaliated with drone strikes on Russian oil refineries and energy sites, intensifying the energy war between the two nations.
Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed efforts to broker a peace deal since returning to the White House in January, diplomatic progress remains stalled, as Moscow and Kyiv continue to trade blows on critical infrastructure.
