Russia pounds Ukraine's power grid, kills 3 in relentless overnight barrage

KYIV: Russia launched a barrage of drones and missiles at Ukraine's energy infrastructure overnight, forcing nationwide power restrictions and killing three people, including a seven-year-old girl, officials said on Thursday.

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko accused Moscow of targeting civilians and critical power supplies as winter approaches. "Its goal is to plunge Ukraine into darkness. Ours is to preserve the light," she said on Telegram, urging for "more air defence systems, tougher sanctions, and maximum pressure on the aggressor."

Regional officials said two men were killed in the southeastern industrial city of Zaporizhzhia, while a seven-year-old girl from the central Vinnytsia region died in hospital from injuries sustained in the strikes.


Russia's defence ministry said its forces had targeted Ukrainian military-industrial facilities overnight. Moscow denies attacking civilians and says its strikes are in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian infrastructure.

Ukraine has carried out frequent drone strikes on Russian military and oil sites as it battles Moscow's nearly four-year-old invasion.

'THERE HAVE BEEN HITS'
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched more than 650 drones and 50 missiles overnight. "Many were shot down, but unfortunately, there have been hits," he wrote on X. Ukraine's air force said it intercepted 592 drones and 31 missiles.

The attacks struck energy facilities across central, western, and southeastern regions, officials said. The government imposed nationwide electricity limits for retail and industrial users, while some regions also reported disruptions to water and heating.

Two energy sites in the western Lviv region were damaged, regional officials said. DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, reported attacks on several of its thermal power plants.