Russia has launched one of its largest attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, firing hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles that knocked out power across several regions just days before US-brokered peace talks are due to resume.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia launched 289 drones, 17 ballistic missiles and 59 cruise missiles overnight, targeting power plants and substations from the Black Sea port of Odesa in the south to Rivne in the west.
Ukraine’s largest private power producer, DTEK, reported that three of its five thermal power plants had been forced offline following the strikes.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the capital’s electricity situation as “extremely difficult”, saying Russian attacks had damaged generating facilities and transmission lines, forcing emergency power cuts.
The latest assault came amid reports of another deadly Russian strike on a school in the frontline village of Komyshuvakha, in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Zelenskiy said at least 33 people were killed on Monday when Russian forces bombed a school being used as an aid distribution centre twice. Around 50 people were believed to remain buried beneath the rubble.
However, Russia’s military claimed its forces had targeted Ukrainian military units in and around Komyshuvakha and two other settlements in the region. Moscow said up to 25 Ukrainian servicemen were killed, while 15 vehicles and an electronic warfare station were destroyed.
Speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, Zelenskiy accused Moscow of prioritising the killing of civilians instead of building on a recent humanitarian ceasefire in the Russian-controlled town of Oleshky.
The latest attacks came less than two days after the brief truce in Oleshky, which had been arranged with assistance from US First Lady Melania Trump, ended.
The escalation has raised concerns over the prospects of upcoming peace negotiations scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on Nov 10 and 11.
Merz described the planned discussions as an important step towards ending the war but insisted that Europe must be involved in the process.
He also urged Russia to demonstrate genuine commitment to negotiations.
“It is important for Russia to finally engage in serious negotiations on a ceasefire and a subsequent peace agreement. I have not seen any sign of this so far,” he said.
Ahead of the Abu Dhabi meeting, the European Commission is scheduled to host discussions on Wednesday involving Ukraine, the United States, NATO and European allies.
Zelenskiy said the discussions would focus on a proposed “prosperity plan” and security guarantees for Ukraine, with further consultations hosted by NATO expected on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal warned that Russian drones had been directed towards a substation essential to the operation of the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant.
He said the incident posed a threat not only to Ukraine but also to nuclear safety across Europe.
Ukraine has four nuclear power plants, including the Zaporizhzhia facility, which has been under Russian control since the early weeks of the invasion in February 2022.
The latest attacks have heightened fears of another difficult winter, with memories still fresh of previous Russian strikes that left millions without electricity and heating for days.
In Dnipro, two people were killed and around 20 injured, according to regional officials. The attacks also damaged a railway station, passenger carriages and locomotives.
Zelenskiy appealed to Ukraine’s allies for additional air defence systems, pointing out that the attacks coincided with the US congressional elections.
“It is very telling that all of this is happening on the day of the US congressional elections. The Russians believe that America will not notice this signal from them. But such terror must be noticed and stopped,” he said.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces had targeted electricity facilities supplying military factories and Ukrainian troops across several regions.
For more than four years, Moscow has repeatedly attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, including electricity generation, distribution and heating facilities, with strikes intensifying as winter approaches.
Ukraine, meanwhile, has stepped up attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Ukrainian officials said the latest overnight bombardment caused power cuts in Kyiv and at least six other regions, while also disrupting water supplies and public transport in the capital.
