Kyiv, Ukraine — Russia unleashed its most extensive wave of airstrikes on Ukraine in nearly three months, firing 120 missiles and 90 drones in a wide-ranging assault early Sunday. The strikes, which killed at least seven people and caused “severe damage” to the power system, mark a significant escalation as winter approaches, Ukrainian officials said.
For weeks, Ukrainians had been bracing for a renewed assault on their energy grid, already weakened by previous attacks. The latest barrage has heightened fears of long blackouts during the cold months, intensifying the psychological strain at a pivotal moment in the conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Widespread Power Outages and Destruction
The strikes prompted emergency power cuts in several regions, including Volyn, Rivne, Lviv, and as far south as Odesa and Mykolaiv. The CEO of DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy provider, Maxim Timchenko, confirmed “severe damage” to power stations, underscoring the urgent need for additional air defense systems from Western allies.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described the assault as a “massive combined attack” targeting all regions of Ukraine. “Russia launched one of the largest air attacks: drones and missiles against peaceful cities, sleeping civilians, and critical infrastructure,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X.
Casualties and Infrastructure Damage
In Mykolaiv, two people were killed in an overnight drone strike, while another two died in a missile strike on a rail depot in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Lviv governor Maksym Kozytskyi reported the death of a woman in a car, and two fatalities were confirmed in Odesa. In Kyiv, debris ignited a residential building’s roof, injuring two people.
This wave of attacks comes as the war nears its 1,000th day, with Russia escalating its offensive. The last major missile assault on Kyiv occurred on August 26, when Russia launched over 200 drones and missiles, also claiming seven lives.
Regional and International Reactions
Neighboring Poland, a NATO member, scrambled its air force as a precaution during the attack, citing the use of cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drones.
The assault coincides with Moscow’s recent battlefield advances in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, despite significant losses. Ukrainian forces, meanwhile, are holding territory in Russia’s Kursk region, which Kyiv views as a potential bargaining chip in future negotiations.
Diplomatic Tensions Rise
The strikes come days after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held his first call with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022. While Scholz urged Russia to withdraw its forces, Kyiv criticized the interaction, arguing it weakened international efforts to isolate Moscow.
As Ukraine struggles to defend its infrastructure and regain occupied territories, the conflict shows no sign of abating, with both sides bracing for more intense battles in the weeks ahead.
