Ukraine is experiencing widespread power outages after a new wave of Russian missile and drone attacks struck key energy facilities across the country. The outages affect multiple regions, including Kharkiv, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, and Kyiv, as authorities carry out urgent repairs and brace for increased energy demand with the onset of winter.

Scope of the Blackouts

State-run electricity operator Ukrenergo reported that scheduled blackouts will continue at least through Monday, affecting both residential and industrial areas. The outages follow severe damage to high-voltage transmission lines in Poltava and Kharkiv, compounding an already fragile electricity grid.

Traffic and critical infrastructure in Kharkiv have been particularly disrupted, with residents navigating the city under blackout conditions.

Details of the Russian Attacks

According to the Ukrainian military, Russian forces deployed a combination of:

• Two air-launched ballistic missiles
• Five surface-to-air guided missiles
• 67 drones, including Iranian-made models

While Ukrainian forces intercepted 52 drones, 15 drones successfully struck nine locations, causing significant damage to energy facilities. No missiles were reported as intercepted during this assault.

Ukrainian Counterattacks

Ukraine has retaliated by targeting Russian oil and fuel infrastructure, aiming to disrupt energy supplies to front-line units. An explosion occurred in the Russian port town of Tuapse on the Black Sea after Ukrainian forces launched sea drones against a major oil terminal and refinery. No casualties were reported.

Russian authorities announced the destruction of four naval drones and claimed to have shot down six HIMARS rockets and 124 fixed-wing UAVs.

Ukraine Seeks More Air Defence Systems

Amid ongoing attacks, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s need for more advanced air defense systems, including 25 Patriot missile systems from the United States.

Zelenskyy suggested that European allies could temporarily transfer their Patriot batteries to Ukraine while awaiting replacements, stressing urgency in light of ongoing Russian strikes:

“We would not like to wait,” he said.

Anti-Corruption Drive in Energy Sector

In parallel with military efforts, Ukraine is pursuing an internal campaign to tackle corruption in the energy and defense sectors.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau announced coordinated searches linked to Tymur Mindich, a former business partner of Zelenskyy and co-owner of Kvartal 95. Authorities allege involvement in a high-level criminal organization responsible for money laundering and illegal enrichment.

International and Regional Context

Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure continue despite ongoing diplomatic efforts led by the United States to resolve the war. The strikes, combined with retaliatory Ukrainian actions, underscore the heightened energy and security risks as winter approaches.