Russia Launches 285 Missile on Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure, Inducing Power Cuts

Russia launched its heaviest attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on Wednesday, killing seven people, wounding 24, and prompting emergency power cuts in Kyiv and surrounding areas. The attacks came as Ukrainian officials warned of a harsh winter, with continued Russian strikes threatening the nation’s electricity and heating systems. 

Russia launched a major air campaign against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on Wednesday, September 30, striking down power facilities in and around Kyiv in what Ukrainian officials described as the heaviest combined attack on energy infrastructure in months.

The strikes claimed seven lives, according to Ukrainian officials, and followed days of intensified drone and missile attacks, particularly focused on the capital. The escalation comes ahead of winter, with Ukrainian authorities fearing further attacks could disrupt power and heating systems in the wake of air defence system shortages.

Ukraine’s state power grid operator, Ukrenergo, imposed emergency electricity cuts in Kyiv and three surrounding regions following the strikes. It was the first time the capital had faced such drastic emergency measures since spring.

Russian attacks during the previous winter severely damaged Ukraine’s power and heating infrastructure, leaving millions of people to cope with prolonged outages and harsh conditions as temperatures fell to record lows.

Kyiv hit as Russia intensifies energy strikes

Russian strikes hit Kyiv’s power infrastructure on Wednesday, damaging a key power plant and other energy facilities.

"Russia has escalated to massive strikes on energy infrastructure," Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi said on X after the attacks overnight.

These attacks disrupted tram and trolleybus services, coupled with reduced water pressure in parts of the capital.

Ukraine’s air force reported it intercepted 254 of 285 Russian drones, including 174 faster, jet-powered models that are harder to bring down. Russia also launched a ballistic missile attack.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said among the seven, a child was also killed by the strike.Furthermore, critical infrastructure was damaged in five regions.

Russia said it had targeted power plants in the Kyiv region, an industrial facility in the Odesa region and a port infrastructure in Izmail in the southwest.

The attacks come as Ukraine prepares for winter, with repeated Russian strikes threatening electricity and heating supplies.

Power Backup checks 

Ukraine has stepped up preparations for winter after Russia’s latest strikes on its energy infrastructure.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Moscow of targeting civilians to disrupt daily life as temperatures fall. 

"Moscow is increasing the pressure on Ukrainian civilians as winter approaches, trying once again to turn cold, darkness, and disruption of normal life into weapons," he said in a post on X. 

Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi ordered local authorities to check backup power systems at critical facilities and hasten their installation.

Ukraine has also been strengthening energy infrastructure and building protective facilities ahead of expected winter attacks. However, Ukrainian Human Rights Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets warned of a serious shortage of urban shelters, saying the civil defence system had failed.

Drones Breach Moldova, Putting NATO on Alert

Three drones breached Moldovan airspace on Wednesday, according to the nation’s defence ministry. 

NATO members Romania and Poland scrambled military jets in response, with flights in Poland’s Lublin and Rzeszow airports being temporarily halted.

Ukraine has also intensified strikes inside Russia, targeting oil refineries and other infrastructure in an effort to undermine its war efforts.