Ukraine: At least 600,000 people across Ukraine were left without electricity after overnight Russian missile and drone strikes damaged critical energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on October 14.
The attacks targeted energy facilities in Kyiv, the surrounding region and the northeastern city of Kharkiv, raising concerns about the security of Ukraine’s power supply despite US President Donald Trump’s claim that an energy ceasefire had taken effect.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, known as DSNS, reported that at least three people were killed and 21 injured in Kyiv.
Russia’s Defence Ministry described the overnight operation as a ‘massive’ strike targeting communications and energy facilities in the Kyiv and Kharkiv regions that it claimed were used by the Ukrainian military.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 39 ballistic and cruise missiles and 128 drones during the attack. Ukrainian air defences intercepted four missiles and 115 drones, according to the military.
Russia’s Defence Ministry separately claimed that its forces had shot down 902 Ukrainian drones overnight across several Russian regions, including Moscow and Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.
The strikes came after Trump announced an energy ceasefire on social media on Sunday, claiming that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to stop attacks on energy infrastructure. However, the scope and implementation of the proposed truce remained unclear.
Zelensky has repeatedly stated that Ukraine is prepared to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries and other energy facilities if Moscow takes similar action.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, meanwhile, argued that Ukraine did not deserve the ‘respite’ a ceasefire would provide. Lavrov also warned that a pause in hostilities could allow European countries to supply Ukraine with additional weapons.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Moscow currently controls about 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, and attacks on energy infrastructure remain a major concern as the country faces continued disruption to essential services.
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