Kyiv Left Without Power After Overnight Assault
The Ukrainian capital was plunged into darkness early Friday following what military officials described as a large-scale offensive, as strikes targeted Kyiv’s infrastructure, disrupting water and electricity services and igniting a fire in a residential high-rise.
City officials reported that essential facilities were hit, leaving nine people wounded, five of whom required hospitalization. Vitali Klitschko, the mayor, stated that outages affected districts on the eastern side of the Dnipro River, which bisects the city.
Online footage showed flames engulfing apartments as emergency crews responded. Debris from intercepted drones also damaged multiple areas.
Witnesses in Kyiv reported hearing loud blasts and experiencing electricity failures across various neighborhoods.
Military authorities confirmed ballistic missiles and explosive drones were used against the capital, advising residents to remain in secure locations.
The government’s energy chief, Svitlana Grynchuk, said the assault had heavily targeted the power network.
"Specialists are doing everything possible to reduce the impact," she stated online, adding that repair efforts would begin once conditions permitted.
In recent weeks, strikes on Ukraine’s power plants and transport systems have intensified, echoing tactics used in prior winters that left many without heat.
Amid concerns over hypersonic missile threats, which are difficult to counter, nationwide alerts were issued Friday.
Separately, overnight drone strikes in the Zaporizhzhia region killed a child and injured at least three others, according to local officials.
Earlier, Ukraine’s leader accused Moscow of deliberately disrupting vital services to spread panic. He warned that repeated damage to gas and rail networks could increase reliance on foreign energy supplies.
In response, Ukraine has expanded its own strikes on Russian territory, which officials claim have caused fuel shortages and infrastructure damage there. One such attack reportedly cut electricity in a border area.
Meanwhile, Russia alleged that a disused pipeline transporting ammonia had been sabotaged, releasing hazardous gas. Images shared by authorities showed a cloud of chemicals spreading from the site.
Officials in Donetsk downplayed the incident’s consequences.
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