Russian missile and drone strikes battered Ukraine’s power grid on Monday, killing at least four people and prompting emergency blackouts across 15 regions.
The attacks, which began overnight, are described as one of the largest in recent weeks. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said, “Russian terrorists have once again targeted energy infrastructure. Unfortunately, there is damage in a number of regions.”
State-owned electricity operator Ukrenergo introduced emergency power cuts to stabilize the grid, while train services were disrupted. Explosions from apparent air defenses were heard in Kyiv, where residents sought shelter.
“We are always worried. We have been under stress for almost three years now,” said 34-year-old lawyer Yulia Voloshyna, who was sheltering in the Kyiv metro.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated it struck energy infrastructure supporting Ukraine’s defense industry.
Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, there have been repeated large-scale drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities.
The attacks resulted in at least four deaths and more than a dozen injuries nationwide. Governor Sergiy Lysak reported that one person, a 69-year-old man, was killed in Dnipropetrovsk.
In Zaporizhzhia, one civilian was killed, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov. Lutsk Mayor Igor Polishchuk said one person died and five were injured due to damage from the bombardment, while Zhytomyr also reported casualties.
Railway infrastructure in Sumy was targeted, injuring a man and damaging buildings. Ukrainian Railways noted that some stations were switched to backup generators due to power outages.
The attacks affected energy facilities in Odesa, Kyiv, and Lviv, with Lviv experiencing partial power outages.
Odesa Governor Oleg Kiper reported four injuries, including a 10-year-old boy, while Mykolaiv’s Governor Vitaliy Kim mentioned “massive rocket fire” that injured three others. In Poltava, an industrial facility attack wounded five people.
Energy Minister German Galushchenko said, “The enemy is once again terrorising the whole of Ukraine with missiles.
The energy sector is in the crosshairs.” Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak argued that the attack underscores the need for Western weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory.
In addition, authorities in Kharkiv reported a fatality from rocket fire, though it was unclear if it was related to the broader assault.
The strikes followed the death of a Reuters safety advisor in a missile attack on a hotel in eastern Ukraine late Saturday.
President Zelensky emphasized the need for global pressure on Russia, stating, “For all this, the world must not stop putting pressure on the terrorist state.” He also noted Ukrainian advances in Russia’s Kursk region.
