Russia conducted a large-scale drone and missile offensive against Ukraine. Powerful explosions were reported in Kyiv, with residents seeking refuge in subways and bunkers for safety. The Ukrainian military reported this, however there are currently no reports of injuries or casualties. Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv military administration, posted on Telegram that up to ten drones were destroyed as they entered the capital from the surrounding Kyiv region.
According to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the Russian attacks affected “15 regions in total,” and there were casualties, both dead and injured. Local media said that Ukrenergo was compelled to conduct “interruptions” in supply to “stabilize the system.” Explosions also occurred in Kharkiv, Odesa, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, Kremenchuk, Dnipro, Khmelnytskyi, Kropyvnytskyi, Lutsk, and Kryvyi Rih. In particular, Lutsk Mayor Ihor Polishchuk claimed on Telegram that a Russian missile attack killed one person in the Volyn region and destroyed an apartment complex.
Blackouts were reported across Ukraine after Russia attacked the country’s energy infrastructure, according to DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, which declared that emergency power outages were taking place nationwide.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that power outages happened in “many districts” of the capital, and there were water supply concerns on the city’s right bank. “The energy sector is under attack,” said Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko, as reported by local media. “The enemy is once again unleashing missile terror across Ukraine,” he said. “The enemy does not give up on planning to leave Ukrainians without electricity.”
Zelensky’s Statement
“It was one of the largest attacks, a combined attack, with hundreds of missiles of various types and about a hundred ‘Shahed’ drones,” and “it is crucial that our partners honor the commitments made together, particularly regarding air defense systems and missiles,” wrote Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on X (formerly Twitter), confirming that the latest large-scale Russian attack targeted “critical civilian infrastructure” and caused “significant damage to the energy sector.” “But,” he said, “in every area affected by power supply interruptions, restoration work is underway.”
“We must join efforts to shoot down Russian drones and missiles,” he urged. “Today, their targets were in the regions of Volyn, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, and Ternopil. In Ukraine, we could do much more to protect human lives if our European neighbors’ air forces operated in concert with our F-16s and air defense systems. If this unity has proven effective in the Middle East, it must work for Europe too. Life has the same value everywhere.”
“Weak and inadequate responses fuel terror. Every leader, every one of our partners, knows that decisive actions are needed to end this war justly,” he concluded. “Ukraine cannot be limited in its long-range capabilities when terrorists have no limits. Our defenders cannot be limited in weapons when Russia deploys its entire arsenal, including ‘Shahed’ drones and ballistic missiles from North Korea. America, the United Kingdom, France, and other partners have the power to help us stop this terror. Now is the time for decisive action.”
Kremlin – “Kursk incursion will not go unanswered”
“Hostile actions, such as the Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, will not go unanswered,” said the Kremlin, stating that the offensive launched by Kyiv in Russia’s western region has derailed the prospect of negotiations aimed at a ceasefire.
