More than 600,000 people in the Kyiv region of Ukraine were without power on Saturday morning after an overnight Russian attack.
Ukraine's energy ministry stated that more than 500,000 of these were in the capital itself, with the rest in the surrounding region. The power losses were attributed to missile and drone strikes on energy infrastructure reported in the city and several other regions.
Officials noted that around 36 missiles and nearly 600 drones were launched on targets across Ukraine overnight, resulting in three deaths and numerous injuries.
Russia has increased its attacks on Ukrainian civilian and energy infrastructure as winter approaches, despite US-led efforts to broker a peace deal.
Russia's defense ministry claimed that it conducted a massive strike... against Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises and the energy facilities that support their operation.
Dtek Energy, responsible for service in Kyiv, confirmed that power had been restored to over 360,000 families later on Saturday.
In addition to striking energy infrastructure, several residential buildings suffered damage during the overnight assaults. Explosions echoed across Kyiv in the early hours, and emergency services were dispatched to assist residents in the impacted areas.
Among the injured was a 13-year-old child, as reported by Kyiv's Mayor Vitaly Klitschko.
Ukraine's Air Force reported it managed to shoot down 558 drones and 19 missiles during the assault.
Kyiv has frequently experienced aerial bombardment since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Amidst these ongoing attacks, Ukrainians have been enduring frequent power outages as Moscow continues to target energy infrastructure, especially during colder months.
As temperatures are expected to drop to 2°C in Kyiv on Sunday, conditions for those without power are set to worsen.
Ukraine has retaliated with strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, including oil refineries and depots, using long-range weaponry capable of reaching deep into Russian territory in an effort to stifle Moscow’s war funding.
Additionally, Ukraine's security service reported on Saturday that it had successfully targeted two oil tankers in the Black Sea believed to be part of Russia's attempts to bypass international sanctions.
The bombings occurred as Ukrainian negotiators prepared for discussions with US officials amidst ongoing peace talks. President Donald Trump is advocating for acceptance of a proposed draft peace deal, which has evolved in favor of Ukraine during discussions in Geneva.
While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged the diplomatic efforts, he has emphasized Kyiv's commitment to preserving its sovereignty and capability to defend against future offensives.
Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his demands for the end of hostilities, asserting that Russia would cease its attacks only if Ukrainian forces withdrew from territories claimed by Moscow.
Currently, Russian forces hold significant territories in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, as well as parts of the southern Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Meanwhile, calls from US and European allies persist for stability along existing front lines as a basis for peace.
Putin also indicated that a US delegation, including special envoy Steve Witkoff, would be visiting Moscow in the coming week to discuss the draft peace initiative.
