Russia Unleashes Largest Missile Barrage On Ukraine, Targets Energy Infrastructure

Russia launched an extensive missile and drone assault on Ukraine overnight into Sunday, targeting energy infrastructure and power plants nationwide in what Ukrainian authorities described as the largest attack since late August and the third largest this year.

The assault struck several cities, including Kyiv, forcing residents into basements, subway stations, and other underground shelters. At least five people were killed, Ukrainian officials reported.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as a “massive strike” impacting “all regions of Ukraine.” On Telegram, he revealed that approximately 120 missiles and 90 drones were launched, with Ukrainian air defences intercepting more than 140 targets.

Ukraine’s air force confirmed that the missiles included at least eight Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, one Zircon hypersonic cruise missile, and over 100 Kalibr cruise missiles—some of Moscow’s most advanced weaponry. Russian aircraft involved included Tu-160 and Tu-95 bombers, as well as Su-34, Su-27, and MiG-31 jets.

“We are grateful to all our air defense,” Zelenskyy stated, adding that American-made F-16 fighter jets played a key role in defending against the barrage.

Strikes were reported in Kyiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro, and western Ukraine. Odesa, a vital Black Sea port city, was left without power, while in Mykolaiv, a drone attack killed two people and injured six, including two children.

In response to the attack, Poland’s military scrambled fighter jets to protect its airspace.

Energy Minister German Galushchenko confirmed that Russia’s strikes targeted Ukraine’s power grid, leading to emergency shutdowns in Kyiv and other regions. The attack comes as temperatures drop below freezing, threatening to leave millions without power during the harsh winter.

Since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Moscow has consistently ramped up long-range strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure ahead of winter, aiming to destabilize the country’s grid. This year is no exception, with an intensification of attacks amid discussions of possible renewed peace negotiations following changes in U.S. leadership.

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Zelenskyy, in an interview with Radio Ukraine, warned of continued “combined strikes” through the winter and urged preparation. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the attack a calculated response by Russian President Vladimir Putin to recent diplomatic engagements, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s conversation with Putin—their first in two years.

“Russia launched one of the largest air attacks: drones and missiles against peaceful cities, sleeping civilians, critical infrastructure,” Sybiha said. “This is war criminal Putin’s true response to all those who called and visited him recently. We need peace through strength, not appeasement.”

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