Russian Drone Attack Kills 3 People, Makes Ukrainian Electricity Byarpet

Russia launched a series of drone and missile attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which forced national electricity restrictions and killed three people, including a seven-year-old girl.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko accused Moscow of targeting the Ukrainian people and electricity supply ahead of winter.

"Their goal is to put Ukraine into the dark. Our goal is to keep the light," said Svyrydenko on the Telegram app.

"To stop terror, we need more air defense systems, tougher sanctions, and maximum pressure on aggressors," he continued.

Regional officials said two men were killed in the industrial city of Zaporizhia, and a seven-year-old girl from theungstia region died in hospital from injuries sustained in the attack.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces launched an attack on Ukraine's military industrial complex facility overnight.

Moscow denies targeting civilians and says its attacks are a response to Ukraine's attacks on Russian infrastructure.

Ukraine has carried out regular drone attacks against military and oil facilities in an effort to counter the Russian invasion that has lasted nearly four years.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched more than 650 unmanned aircraft and 50 missiles overnight.

"Many were shot down, but unfortunately, some were hit," he wrote on X.

The air defense unit shot down 592 drones and 31 missiles, the air force said.

The attack hit energy facilities in the central, western, and southeast regions, Ukrainian officials said.

The government announced restrictions on national electricity supply for retail and industrial consumers. In some areas, the supply of water and heating is also disrupted.

Local officials said two energy facilities in the western Lviv region had been damaged. DTEK, the largest private energy company, said its thermal power plants in a number of areas were under attack.

"This attack is a major blow to our efforts to keep electricity supply flowing this winter," said Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK.

"Based on the intensity of the attack over the past two months, it is clear Russia aims to completely destroy Ukraine's energy system," he added.

Six children were among 17 injured in the attack on Zaporizhia, his governor said. Four people were injured in thetensia region, officials said.

The air warning lasts almost all night in Kyiv, where residents take shelter at underground metro stations.

"No one is good here. We are trying our best to hide," Viktoria, 39, mother of a six-year-old boy, told Reuters at the metro station.