Ukraine faced another wave of Russian missile and drone strikes overnight, targeting critical energy infrastructure across the country. Zhytomyr, a city of approximately 260,000 people west of Kyiv, has been left without electricity and running water. The local water company, Zhytomyrvodokanal, is working to connect pumps to backup generators to restore water supplies.
Russia's defence ministry claimed its air defence systems intercepted 25 Ukrainian drones overnight in four regions. Krasnodar experienced a “massive drone attack” that injured one civilian, while other drones were reportedly destroyed over Bryansk, Moscow-annexed Crimea, and Rostov.
Krasnodar’s governor, Veniamin Kondratyev, confirmed that two districts in the region were targeted during the assault.
Ukraine's Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko described the attack as a "massive enemy strike" against the energy sector. Emergency power outages have been implemented across the country to prevent grid overloads. In northwestern Ukraine, Lutsk experienced power outages and stopped tram services, while Rivne reported electricity cuts affecting over 280,000 people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that Russia carried out nearly 1,500 strikes on Ukrainian regions through Sunday night, causing widespread destruction and injuries. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military targeted an oil depot south of Moscow and border regions such as Bryansk and Kursk.
This escalation follows Russia's recent use of the new Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile on Dnipro, while Ukraine deployed US and British long-range missiles on Russian territory for the first time.
With temperatures dropping and Ukraine’s harsh winter approaching, concerns are mounting over the humanitarian impact of these attacks. Many Kyiv residents sought shelter in underground stations, bringing along pets and winter essentials.
Ukrenergo, Ukraine's state-owned energy operator, issued an urgent appeal for residents to follow official updates and seek safety in shelters.
Ukraine's parliamentary commissioner for human rights, Dmytro Lubinets, condemned the strikes as an attempt to intimidate civilians and create a humanitarian crisis. Ukrainian officials have long warned of Russia’s strategy to stockpile missiles for coordinated winter assaults.
As explosions were reported from Kharkiv in the east to Lutsk in the west and Odesa in the south, Ukraine's air defence systems were active in Kyiv. Emergency measures and coordinated responses continue to mitigate the impacts of these attacks.