Seven people are dead after overnight Russian strikes tore through Kyiv’s power grid and surrounding districts, according to Ukrainian officials. The assault, which combined multiple weapon types, caused widespread blackouts and shattered the quiet lull that had followed the end of the last heating season. It’s the bloodiest coordinated hit on the capital’s infrastructure since summer, signaling a sharp escalation just as winter bites.
Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi confirmed the pattern of relentless attrition on Telegram, noting that energy infrastructure has been targeted on virtually every day since August. “But such a massive and combined attack happened for the first time since the end of the last heating season,” he wrote. The timing is not accidental. Moscow is pushing to break Ukrainian morale and physical endurance before the coldest months set in, a strategy Kyiv officials call “weaponising winter.”
The air defense gap is stark and dangerous. Ukraine’s air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat revealed that Russia launched 3,177 jet-propelled drones against the country in the current month alone, a sharp jump from the 2,850 recorded in August. These fast-moving targets are difficult to intercept, especially when paired with ballistic and cruise missiles. Ihnat stated plainly that Ukraine needs more missiles for its Patriot systems to counter these ballistic threats, a request that highlights the critical dependency on Western hardware.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the situation as a campaign of terror, pointing to days of continuous air raid alerts across the nation. “Russia is intensifying its terror: jet-powered drones during the day, ballistic and cruise missiles at night,” he said on X. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy identified energy infrastructure in and around Kyiv as the primary target, acknowledging the vulnerability of the capital’s lifelines.
For now, the focus remains on emergency repairs and diplomatic appeals for additional air defense systems. The next 48 hours will determine whether Kyiv can restore stability to its grid before the next wave arrives, with international partners urged to accelerate Patriot missile deliveries before the temperature drops further.