Russian drone and missile strikes injured over 20 individuals in Kyiv, causing damage to residential structures and power outages in various parts of Ukraine on Friday, as reported by authorities. Tragically, a child lost their life in separate assaults in the southeast region of the country.
Rescue teams in the heart of the Ukrainian capital worked tirelessly to save more than 20 people trapped in a 17-story apartment building engulfed in flames on the sixth and seventh floors. Five individuals were taken to hospitals, while others were treated on-site, according to officials.
Describing the harrowing experience, 61-year-old Tetiana Lemishevska recounted, “Everyone was asleep when suddenly there was a loud noise; it was evident that something was approaching. I managed to shield myself with a blanket, and then the impact occurred — shattering windows and sending glass flying towards the door.” She further explained, “Initially, the fire broke out on the sixth or seventh floor, rapidly escalating and spreading to other levels. Consequently, those who could evacuated the building without knowing the outcome.”
Ukraine’s air force disclosed that the recent Russian assault comprised 465 drones for striking and decoy purposes, along with 32 assorted missiles. Air defenses successfully intercepted or disrupted 405 drones and 15 missiles, as stated by the military.
Furthermore, in the Zaporizhzhia region in southeastern Ukraine, residential zones and energy facilities were targeted with drones, missiles, and guided bombs, resulting in the tragic death of a seven-year-old boy and injuries to his parents and several others. Officials from the military administration reported that a hydroelectric plant in the area was shut down as a precautionary measure.
Amid the attacks, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remarked on social media that the Russian strikes deliberately aimed at civilian and energy infrastructure, coinciding with Ukraine’s preparations for the impending winter season. Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko characterized the assault as one of the most extensive concentrated attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities.
Reports from Ukraine’s national energy operator, Ukrenergo, indicated power outages in Kyiv and surrounding regions, including Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Cherkasy. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko informed that the attack on Friday resulted in power disruptions on both sides of the city divided by the Dnipro River. DTEK, Ukraine’s largest electricity operator, confirmed that repair efforts were underway at several damaged thermal plants.
The energy sector has become a pivotal battleground since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Russia has historically targeted the Ukrainian power grid before the harsh winter season, likely as a strategy to undermine public morale, given that Ukraine experiences severe winter conditions from late October through March, with January and February being the coldest months.
