KYIV: More than 200,000 electricity consumers have been left without power in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region following Russian missile and drone attacks on critical energy infrastructure, raising fresh concerns about the country’s ability to withstand the approaching winter.
The latest strikes severely damaged the electricity network, disrupting supplies across the city of Dnipro, surrounding districts and parts of Pavlohrad, Ukrainian officials said.
According to AFP, Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russian forces launched ballistic missiles and drones against several regions overnight, targeting infrastructure and causing widespread power disruptions.
The regional electricity company said the grid operator had ordered emergency power cuts in affected areas to manage the damage and protect the remaining energy network.
Energy workers are now working continuously to repair damaged facilities and restore electricity supplies. However, the scale of destruction has raised concerns about how quickly normal services can resume.
The blackout came just a day after another deadly Russian drone attack struck a busy railway platform in Dnipro, killing at least 14 people and injuring more than a dozen others.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the railway station attack as horrific, highlighting the growing danger faced by civilians as Russian strikes continue across the country.
Kyiv has repeatedly accused Moscow of deliberately targeting energy infrastructure to weaken Ukraine’s ability to resist the invasion and increase pressure on its population.
With winter approaching, the latest attacks have intensified fears that millions of Ukrainians could face severe difficulties if electricity and heating systems remain vulnerable.
Damage to power facilities during freezing temperatures could disrupt household heating, water supplies, public services and industrial operations, placing additional pressure on communities already struggling with the consequences of prolonged conflict.
Ukraine has faced repeated attacks on its energy infrastructure throughout the war, forcing authorities to introduce emergency measures and undertake extensive repairs to maintain electricity supplies.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed that its air defence systems had intercepted and destroyed more than 1,000 Ukrainian drones across different Russian regions overnight.
The Russian military did not provide independently verified details supporting the scale of its claim.
The latest developments underline the continuing escalation of attacks on both sides, with energy facilities and other critical infrastructure increasingly caught in the conflict.
As temperatures begin to fall, protecting electricity and heating networks is becoming an urgent priority for Ukraine, where another harsh winter could deepen the humanitarian consequences of the war.
