Millions of Ukrainians are enduring cold temperatures and darkness after a wave of Russian attacks in opposition to energy amenities induced widespread energy outages throughout the nation.
Ukrainian authorities have warned that the massive scale of the harm means it’s going to take time to revive energy flows. Electricity provides throughout the nation are being rationed – with folks within the capital Kyiv set to be with out energy for 10-12 hours on Sunday, in keeping with schedules revealed by energy corporations.
Svitlana Grynchuk, Ukraine’s energy minister, stated the assault on Saturday was “one of the largest direct ballistic attacks on energy facilities” for the reason that begin of the battle.
She stated that emergency energy cuts have been carried out throughout nearly all areas to stabilise the community. “We then switched to hourly power cuts, so that consumers could more easily plan their activities around the outages,” Grynchuk stated.
The assault over the weekend got here simply as temperatures in Ukraine started to drop to single digits levels Celsius. Russia has focused Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on quite a few events because it launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, often stepping up attacks round this time of the 12 months.
These frequent disruptions have compelled Ukrainians to adapt – diesel turbines have turn into a typical sight throughout the nation and folks have turn into accustomed to scheduling their lives round deliberate outages.
Many households at the moment are scheduling cooking and homework time across the energy schedules, and aged folks not leaving their properties in worry of getting caught with out an entry to the carry.
Russia strikes when individuals are asleep
Nine Ukrainian areas got here below assault in a single day into Saturday, in keeping with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
At least 15 civilians have been killed by Russian strikes over the weekend, in keeping with Ukrainian native authorities.
Three folks have been killed and 12 injured when a Russian drone struck a nine-story condo constructing within the central Ukrainian metropolis of Dnipro. Video captured the second the drone struck within the darkness.
“There’s nothing here, just ordinary buildings,” stated a girl who gave her identify as Maia.
“I don’t know how I survived, because all the shrapnel flew onto the bed where I was sleeping,” stated Larysa, one other resident of the constructing.
“We gathered quickly and started to go downstairs. People were screaming. You could already hear screams from the street,” she added.
Of the 45 missiles fired by Russia in a single day Saturday, some of which have been ballistic weapons, the Ukrainian air power stated solely 9 had been intercepted. Some 450 drones have been additionally launched.
Three folks have been killed and 12 injured when a Russian drone hit an condo block in Dnipro on November 8, 2025. – Mykola Miakshykov/Ukrinform/NurPhoto/Getty Images
“26 missiles and 52 strike UAVs (drones) have been recorded hitting 25 locations,” it stated, with many of the attacks occurring within the central areas of Poltava and Dnipropetrovsk in addition to Kyiv.
“It is extremely difficult to counter ballistic and aero-ballistic missiles,” Zelensky stated in his every day tackle later Saturday. “Only a few systems in the world are capable of intercepting such missiles effectively – and to protect our entire territory, we need far more of these systems and far more of the missiles for them.”
The Ukrainian president stated Kyiv was working with the US to buy extra Patriot air protection techniques, which have proved succesful in intercepting Russian missiles.
Ukraine has requested extra assist from allies to replenish its air defenses, in addition to longer-range missiles to assault Russian energy and navy amenities. Its request for US Tomahawk missiles was turned down by President Donald Trump final month.
Russia’s protection ministry stated the strikes had are available in response to Ukrainian attacks, and had included Kinzhal ballistic missiles and different weapons in strikes in opposition to “enterprises of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex and gas and energy facilities of Ukraine that supported their operations.”
The frequent attacks on energy have severely broken Ukrainian fuel manufacturing. Ukrainian officers have stated they’ll have to show to costly imports of European fuel to make up the shortfall.
“Despite the enemy’s plans, Ukraine will have light and heat this winter,” stated energy minister Grynchuk.
The Ukrainian navy and safety companies have also stepped up drone and missile attacks in opposition to Russian refineries and different infrastructure similar to pipelines and pumping stations in current months.
On Saturday, Ukrainian drones carried out what one Russian official described as a “massive attack” on energy amenities within the Volgograd area, a frequent goal of Ukraine.
A substation was hit, in keeping with Andrey Bocharov, the regional governor, who stated energy was restored a number of hours after the strike.
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