Ukraine has been hit by widespread power outages across the entire country following what officials have described as the largest Russian missile and drone assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since the start of the conflict. The strikes began late Friday night and continued into early Saturday morning, resulting in severe disruptions to the national grid.
By Saturday evening, every region of Ukraine was experiencing electricity shortages, with authorities implementing rolling blackouts lasting between four and twelve hours. According to Centrenergo, the state-owned energy company, all government-operated thermal power plants (TPPs) are currently out of commission.
Videos posted to social media showed large sections of Kiev completely dark on Saturday night, with similar scenes reported in Kharkov, Zaphorizhia, and Dnipropetrovsk. Among the hardest hit facilities were the Trypilska TPP near Kiev and the Zmiivska TPP in the Kharkov region, both of which reportedly came under attack from more than 50 drones and a dozen missiles each.
In total, approximately 450 drones and 45 missiles were launched at targets across Ukraine, according to preliminary reports.
The strikes mark a new phase in the ongoing energy war between Moscow and Kiev, which intensified over the summer as Ukraine increased drone attacks on Russian oil refineries. However, Russia’s broader missile and drone capabilities have enabled it to inflict far greater damage on Ukraine’s power generation and distribution networks.
Last month, Ukrainian officials confirmed that more than 60% of the country’s natural gas production capacity had been destroyed or severely damaged following Russian attacks on gas fields and processing sites, forcing delays in the start of the winter heating season.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Railways announced last week that train services to the Donbas cities of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk would be suspended indefinitely. While officials cited logistical reasons, many observers believe the move reflects both the worsening energy crisis and the advance of Russian forces closer to the cities, enabling drone and artillery strikes on nearby transport infrastructure.