Key facts
- Russia launched large-scale drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure on Wednesday.
- The attacks targeted Kyiv and surrounding areas, as well as other regions.
- Five people, including a child, were killed across Ukraine.
- Russia stated it hit a data center supporting Ukraine's armed forces, power plants, an industrial complex, and port infrastructure.
- Ukraine's air force intercepted five missiles and 155 drones.
- Debris from the attacks was found at a Western embassy in Kyiv.
Russia launched a significant drone and missile assault on Ukraine's energy infrastructure on Wednesday, targeting Kyiv and surrounding areas in what officials described as a prelude to further winter attacks. Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi noted that energy facilities in other regions were also hit, marking the largest combined strike since the end of the previous heating season. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy identified the capital and its environs as the primary targets of the overnight offensive, which involved nearly 190 drones and ballistic missiles.
Five people, including a child, were killed across Ukraine due to the attacks. Power company DTEK reported that supply had been restored to 8,000 households in Kyiv. Russia acknowledged the strikes, stating that it had targeted a data center in Kyiv supporting Ukraine's armed forces, power plants in the Kyiv region, an industrial complex in Odesa, and port infrastructure in Izmail. These attacks follow weeks of persistent drone barrages, and Ukraine is reportedly short of interceptors for ballistic missiles.
Ukraine's air force announced the interception of five missiles and 155 drones. Debris from the attacks was found at a Western embassy in central Kyiv, according to preliminary information cited by Klitschko. Neighboring countries were also affected, with a drone crossing into Moldova's airspace and exploding, and Romania and Poland scrambling military jets in response. Flights at Polish airports Lublin and Rzeszow were temporarily suspended.