Ukrainian officials said Russia launched another massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine overnight Friday into Saturday, heavily targeting the country’s energy infrastructure. The attacks injured several people and left thousands of families without power in several areas, increasing pressure on Ukraine’s power system as winter conditions persist.
Ukrainian officials described the overnight attack as one of the most significant joint attacks in recent weeks, with the Odessa region bearing the brunt of the attack.
What happened
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched a total 465 drones and 30 missiles – Which includes air, sea and land based missiles during an overnight attack. The main direction of attack was southern Ukraine, especially Odessa region,
Air defense forces said they successfully shot down or electronically suppressed 417 drones and 13 missilesDespite those efforts, 33 drones and eight missiles hit the target on 18 placesWhile debris from the intercepted weapons fell at three additional sites. Officials are still investigating where six other missiles fell after failing to reach their targets.
ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky It confirmed the scope of the damage in a post on Twitter, adding that emergency services were working to restore power and water supplies in affected communities.
“Once again, the main attack targeted our energy sector, the south of the country, and the Odessa region,” Zelensky wrote.
Impact on energy infrastructure
Ukrainian Ministry of Energy Confirmed that Russian missile and drone attacks targeted electricity Generation, Distribution and Transmission Facilities In Dnipropetrovsk, Chernihiv, Odessa and Mykolaiv regions,
By Saturday morning, customers Odessa, Chernihiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovograd and Mykolaiv regions Left without power. Thousands of families were affected, with officials warning that restoration efforts could take time due to the scale of the damage.
The attack once again underlined Russia’s continued focus on undermining Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, a strategy Ukrainian officials say is aimed at disrupting civilian life.
Injuries and regional damage
at least Two people were injured in the Odessa regionAccording to Ukrainian officials. In Mykolaiv regionThe situation was more serious, with At least five people injuredSaid vitali kimHead of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration.
Kim said all critical infrastructure in Mykolaiv had to run on generators after the “massive attack”.
The strikes caused massive power disruptions in Odessa. serhiy lysakThe head of the Odessa City Military Administration said that all traction substations lost power, forcing them to be temporarily suspended. Tram and trolleybus services across town.
Ukraine’s response and ongoing efforts
Zelensky said emergency crews, energy workers and utility services were working around the clock to restore power and water supplies. Officials stressed that repair teams were working in difficult conditions, as recovery efforts were complicated by repeated attacks.
The Air Defense Forces of Ukraine highlighted the high interception rate as evidence of continuous improvement in defensive capabilities, while also emphasizing the urgent need for additional air defense systems to protect critical infrastructure.
Official statement or what will happen next
Ukrainian officials warned that further attacks on energy infrastructure remained likely, as Russia has repeatedly targeted power facilities throughout the conflict. The government continues to appeal to international partners for increased air defense support and assistance in repairing damaged energy systems.
Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing to assess the full extent of the damage and determine the exact impact of the missiles that failed to reach their targets.
This story may be updated with more information as it becomes available.
