More than 100,000 Ukrainian households have been plunged into darkness following a wave of Russian drone strikes targeting the country’s energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Wednesday.
The overnight assault, which involved nearly 100 drones, struck multiple regions including Poltava, Sumy, and Chernihiv. Ukraine’s energy ministry described the attacks as part of Moscow’s ongoing campaign to cripple civilian infrastructure in the lead-up to winter. Last year, Ukraine accused Russia of destroying nearly half of its electricity-generating capacity, and officials now warn of renewed efforts to leave millions vulnerable during the cold months ahead.
In addition to energy facilities, Zelensky said drones also struck a school in the Kharkiv region and a residential high-rise in Kherson. “New steps are needed to put pressure on Russia to stop the strikes and truly guarantee security,” the Ukrainian leader wrote on Telegram, adding that Kyiv is engaging with international partners to push for stronger measures against Moscow.
The strikes highlight the intensifying aerial component of the war, now entering its fourth year. While Russia has sustained heavy losses on the battlefield, it continues to focus on destabilizing Ukraine through infrastructure attacks. In turn, Ukraine has launched retaliatory strikes on Russian oil depots and refineries in recent months, seeking to undermine Moscow’s war financing and logistics.
Meanwhile, fighting on the ground shows no sign of slowing. On Tuesday, a Ukrainian military official confirmed that Russian forces briefly crossed into the Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time, though the incursion was halted. Unlike Donetsk and other occupied territories, Moscow has not claimed Dnipropetrovsk as part of its territorial ambitions.
On Wednesday, Russia’s defense ministry announced that its forces had seized a village in Donetsk, underscoring Moscow’s continued push in the eastern region despite high casualties. Analysts say Russia’s recent gains, though limited, reflect its strategy of gradual territorial advances supported by relentless aerial bombardment.
As Ukraine braces for another difficult winter, officials warn that the systematic targeting of power facilities poses a grave humanitarian challenge. The renewed strikes underline Kyiv’s urgent calls for greater air defense support from Western allies to shield its population and critical infrastructure from Russia’s escalating drone campaign.
