At least 20 people were injured in Kyiv due to Russian drone and missile attacks, causing damage to residential buildings and power outages in parts of Ukraine early Friday. Tragically, a child lost their life in separate incidents in the southeast region of the country.
In the heart of Kyiv, emergency teams rescued over 20 individuals from a 17-story apartment complex as flames engulfed the sixth and seventh floors. Five people were taken to hospitals, while others received immediate medical assistance on site, according to officials.
Witnesses described the terrifying moments, with Tetiana Lemishevska, a 61-year-old resident, recounting how the sudden sound alerted them before the strike hit. The fire quickly spread through the building, prompting residents to evacuate uncertain of the outcome.
Ukraine’s air force reported that the recent Russian assault involved 465 strike and decoy drones, along with 32 missiles of different types. Air defense systems successfully intercepted or disrupted 405 drones and 15 missiles.
In the Zaporizhzhia region, located in the southeast, residential areas and energy facilities were targeted by attack drones, missiles, and guided bombs. Sadly, a seven-year-old child lost their life in the attacks, while their parents and others sustained injuries. As a precaution, a hydroelectric plant in the area was shut down.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted that the Russian strikes aimed at civilian and energy infrastructure come as Ukraine braces for the cold winter weather. Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko termed the attacks as one of the most concentrated strikes on Ukraine’s energy facilities.
The national energy operator, Ukrenergo, reported power outages in Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Cherkasy regions. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that the attack caused power outages on both sides of the city, with repair work already underway at damaged thermal plants by Ukraine’s biggest electricity operator, DTEK.
The energy sector has been a focal point since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Russia has historically targeted Ukraine’s power grid before harsh winter conditions set in, potentially aiming to undermine public morale during the coldest months of January and February.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, during a visit to Lviv in western Ukraine, expressed Poland’s readiness to assist Ukraine with additional electricity supplies. He condemned the escalation of attacks, suggesting they are intended to intimidate people ahead of winter.
Russia, on the other hand, has accused Ukraine of targeting energy facilities as well. The governor of Russia’s Volograd region claimed that a drone attack from Ukraine sparked fires at energy sites without providing further details.