KYIV — In a devastating escalation of its ongoing war against Ukraine, Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack early Monday, striking critical infrastructure across the country and leaving at least five people dead. The assault, which occurred during the morning rush hour, targeted Ukraine's national power grid and other essential facilities, resulting in widespread power cuts and water supply disruptions in multiple regions.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described the strike as one of Russia's largest and most intense in weeks, involving more than 100 missiles and approximately 100 Shahed drones. "It was one of the biggest combined strikes. More than a hundred missiles of various types and about a hundred Shahed drones. And like most previous Russian strikes, this one is just as sneaky, targeting critical civilian infrastructure," Zelenskiy said on Telegram.

The attack affected at least 10 regions across Ukraine, with significant damage reported to the energy sector. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed that 15 regions had sustained damage, particularly to energy infrastructure, leading to emergency power cuts to stabilize the grid.

In Kyiv, air defenses were activated to intercept incoming missiles and drones. Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's military administration, reported that Ukraine's air defenses successfully downed around 15 missiles and 15 drones targeting the capital. Despite these efforts, explosions and gunfire from anti-drone units were heard across the city, shaking the nerves of residents.

The assault claimed the lives of at least five individuals across several regions. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, a 69-year-old man was killed, according to regional head Sergiy Lysak. Another fatality was reported in Zaporizhzhia, where a man died after his house was hit. In Lutsk, an infrastructure facility was struck, killing one person, as confirmed by the city’s mayor. Additional deaths occurred in Izyum, Kharkiv region, and Zhytomyr region, where a woman lost her life following missile strikes on homes and infrastructure.

The regions hit by the Russian barrage included Rivne and Volyn in the northwest, Khmelnytsk in the southwest, Zhytomyr in the north, Lviv in the west, and central areas such as Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, and Vinnytsia. The southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia and southern Odesa were also affected. In the northeastern Sumy region, a railway infrastructure facility was damaged, though authorities did not provide further details.

In response to the attack, Poland’s military placed its warplanes and those of its allies on alert, given the proximity of the strikes to NATO member states, including the western regions of Ukraine that border Poland.

Ukraine's Response and International Reactions
As Ukraine continues to grapple with the aftermath, Zelenskiy reiterated calls for Western allies to provide long-range weapons, emphasizing that Ukraine must be allowed to strike back at the sources of Russian attacks. "Ukraine must not have restrictions on the range when terrorists have none. Defenders of life must have no restrictions on using weapons," Zelenskiy stated.

Ukraine's counter-offensive efforts have intensified in recent weeks, including a significant cross-border incursion into Russia's southern Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have claimed new ground. Over the weekend, Zelenskiy announced that Ukraine had developed a new "drone missile" that was faster and more powerful than previous hardware, which had been used to attack targets deep within Russia.

Russia's defense ministry confirmed the attack on Ukraine, stating that "high-precision weapons" were used to strike important energy infrastructure, which it claimed supported Ukraine's military-industrial complex.

This latest assault comes as Russia appears to be preparing for the winter by degrading Ukraine's energy infrastructure, a tactic that has been increasingly employed since March. According to Prime Minister Shmyhal, Russia's strikes have already reduced Ukraine’s electricity generation capacity by half and its thermal power generation capacity by about 80%.

As repair crews work around the clock to restore power, Ukraine braces for further escalations. The air raid alert across the country has been partially lifted but remains in effect in several regions as drones continue to target key locations.

As the conflict drags on, the toll on civilians and infrastructure mounts, with no clear end in sight. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with growing concern over the potential for further escalation, particularly in light of Ukraine's ongoing counter-offensive operations and the increasing sophistication of its long-range strike capabilities.