Russia's Massive Aerial Strike on Ukraine's Power Grid

Russia launched a sweeping aerial assault on Ukraine early Friday, firing 93 missiles and nearly 200 drones at energy infrastructure across the country, the Ukrainian air force said. The hours-long offensive began before dawn and forced state energy operator Ukrenergo to initiate emergency blackouts in multiple regions to prevent a total collapse of the national grid. Ukraine reported that its air defenses intercepted 81 missiles and about 80 drones, but at least one civilian was killed and several others were wounded. Energy facilities in at least seven regions were struck or targeted, including Kyiv, the western Lviv region near the Polish border, and the southeastern Zaporizhzhia area. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said several districts lost power after strikes on the capital's energy infrastructure. Lviv regional governor Maksym Kozytskyi reported damage to critical systems and confirmed emergency outages. Ukrenergo said rolling cuts were necessary to stabilize the network while crews assessed and repaired damage amid continuing threats. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the attack as "despicable," arguing Moscow sought to make the coming months as harsh as possible for civilians. Temperatures in many parts of Ukraine have fallen below freezing, raising concerns about heating for homes, hospitals and other critical services. This was the 11th major assault on Ukraine's energy systems this year, part of a campaign analysts say is intended to erode civilian morale and impede the country's ability to function during winter. The strike drew immediate international condemnation. The European Union called the targeting of civilian infrastructure a war crime, with EU officials pledging continued support for Ukraine. Poland said it scrambled fighter jets as a precaution amid the barrage; NATO allies have previously warned about the risks of stray missiles impacting neighboring territories. Western officials also voiced alarm over reports of deepening military ties between Russia and North Korea, including unconfirmed reports of North Korean personnel fighting alongside Russian forces in border regions. Analysts say the attack underscores the acute vulnerability of energy networks in prolonged conflict and the strategic logic behind targeting them ahead of winter. Ukraine has been intensifying repairs and hardening of its grid while pressing Western partners for additional air defense systems to better shield critical infrastructure. Beyond the immediate humanitarian risks, continued assaults on power supplies could strain international aid, complicate reconstruction, and heighten pressure on allies to accelerate deliveries of defensive equipment and spare parts.