Kyiv power grid strained as Russian strikes target infrastructure

Multiple waves of ballistic missiles struck the city, causing damage to the Northern Bridge spanning the Dnipro River, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

The energy ministry confirmed significant damage to facilities supplying power from two nuclear plants to Kyiv and central Ukraine. Substations in five other regions were also affected.

“The capital is facing serious difficulties with its electricity, water, and heat supplies,” President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on X. He added that Russia launched 36 ballistic missiles, with only four intercepted, according to Ukraine’s air force. Air defenses reportedly downed 149 out of 172 drones.

At least two fatalities and around a dozen injuries were reported across Ukraine during the attacks, which also impacted residential and commercial buildings.

The Russian defense ministry claimed responsibility for the strikes, stating they targeted Ukraine’s military-industrial sector and energy and transport infrastructure around Kyiv.

Russia has intensified aerial attacks on Ukraine as its ground offensive has slowed, repeatedly targeting energy infrastructure with missiles and drones in a conflict exceeding four years.

Recent weeks have seen an expansion of these attacks to include Kyiv’s bridges, impacting traffic in the city of over 3 million residents.

The strikes precede planned three-way talks in Abu Dhabi between Ukrainian and Russian officials, part of a US-backed peace initiative with limited progress to date.

“Russia is preparing for trilateral talks by launching ballistic missiles at Ukraine’s critical infrastructure,” Zelensky said on X.

The attacks follow the US midterm elections, where Ukraine hopes for increased support from a Democratic-controlled Congress.

“We are counting on the US Congress to give more attention to Ukraine, because Russia keeps increasing the number of its attacks,” Zelensky added.