KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine is facing widespread power outages after a massive overnight aerial assault by Russia, killing at least three people and injuring dozens more, Ukrainian authorities report. The attacks, which struck nine regions across the country while many were asleep, have severely impacted the nation’s energy infrastructure.

State energy company Centrenergo described the strikes as “the most massive attack on our thermal power plants since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.” The bombardment comes as temperatures across Ukraine drop into the single digits Celsius, raising concerns about winter heating and energy security.

Human Toll and Damage

A drone strike hit a nine-story apartment building in Dnipro, central Ukraine, killing three people and injuring 12. Residents described the chaos as shrapnel tore through walls and ceilings. “I don’t know how I survived,” said one resident. Authorities report that in the last 24 hours, 12 people have been killed and nearly 50 injured across the country due to Russian attacks.

Scale of the Attack

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 45 missiles, including ballistic weapons, and deployed roughly 450 drones targeting Ukrainian energy and military facilities. Only nine missiles were intercepted, underscoring the strain on Ukraine’s air defenses. Central regions such as Poltava and Dnipropetrovsk, as well as Kyiv, were heavily targeted.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said, “It is extremely difficult to counter ballistic and aero-ballistic missiles. Only a few systems in the world are capable of intercepting such missiles effectively. To protect our entire territory, we need far more of these systems.”

Energy Crisis and Response

The strikes have severely damaged gas production and power generation, forcing Ukraine to implement emergency power cuts across several regions. Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk confirmed that residents in Kyiv could expect intermittent outages over the weekend.

Ukraine is coordinating with the United States to acquire additional Patriot air defense systems, which have demonstrated effectiveness against Russian missile strikes. The government has also requested longer-range missiles to target Russian energy and military facilities, though a request for US Tomahawk missiles was reportedly denied by President Donald Trump last month.

Russian Perspective

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed the strikes were in retaliation for Ukrainian attacks, including drone and missile hits on Russian energy infrastructure in recent months. They reported using Kinzhal ballistic missiles to target enterprises supporting Ukraine’s military-industrial complex and energy operations.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continue to strike Russian refineries and pipelines, including a “massive attack” on energy facilities in the Volgograd region, according to local officials.

Despite the destruction, Minister Grynchuk reassured citizens: “Despite the enemy’s plans, Ukraine will have light and heat this winter.”