Ukraine's Power Network Damaged Due To 120 Missiles And 90 Russian Drones Attacks

Illustration of the impact of the Russian attack on Ukraine. (Wikimedia Commons/Kyiv City State Administration)

JAKARTA - Russia launched its biggest airstrike against Ukraine in nearly three months on Sunday, launching 120 missiles and 90 unmanned aircraft that killed at least seven people and caused severe damage to the electricity grid, officials said.

Ukrainians have been preparing for weeks to confront a new Russian attack on the already paralyzed energy system, fearing long winter power outages and psychological pressures that have risen nearly 1,000 days after Russia launched a full-scale invasion.

Air defenses can be heard attacking drones over the capital Kyiv at night, with a series of powerful explosions booming throughout the city center during the missile attack. Residents gathered in shelter at underground metro stations, wrapped in winter mantles.

"Severe damage to Ukraine's energy systems, including the DTEK power plant. This attack once again highlights Ukraine's need for additional air defense systems from our allies," said Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK, Ukraine's largest private power company.

The extent of the damage is difficult to predict. After repeated Russian attacks on the power grid, officials disclosed little detailed information about the outcome of attacks and network conditions.

This morning began with one of the largest Russian strikes on Ukraine. 210 missiles and drones, including aeroballistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as dozens of Shahed drones, were launched. All of them targeted civilian infrastructure—critical facilities like power plants… pic.twitter.com/PriNcqjJ8C

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 17, 2024

This morning begins with one of the largest Russian strikes on Ukraine. 210 missed and drones, including aeroballistic and hypersonic missed, as well as dozens of Shahed drones, were launched. All of them targeted civilian infrastructure critical facilities like power plants... pic.twitter.com/PriNcqjJ8C

Officials confirmed damage to "essential infrastructure" or power outages in areas from Volyn, Rivne, Lviv in the west to Dnipropxisk and Zaporizhia in the southeast.

DTEK imposed an emergency power outage in the southern region of Odesa, but had lifted it in three other areas late in the morning. Emergency work is underway in the Odesa, Rivne and Volyn regions, said national network operator Ukrenergo.

"This morning started with one of Russia's biggest attacks on Ukraine. A total of 210 missile and drone, including aerobalistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as dozens of Shahed unmanned aircraft, were launched. All targeted civilian infrastructure, essential facilities such as power plants and transformers," President Zelensky wrote on Twitter.

The Kyiv air force said it had destroyed 104 of the 120 missiles that entered and shot down 42 drones. A total of 41 others disappeared from radar, he said.

At least seven people were killed, in the areas of Lviv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Dnipropximsk, authorities said.

Russia's latest attack added to pressure on Ukraine as Moscow forces recorded the fastest gains on the battlefield in the eastern region since 2022 in their bid to capture the entire Donbas industrial area.

Separately, Russia's Defense Ministry said it had launched a massive offensive against energy facilities supplying Ukraine's military industrial complex.

Earlier, Russia last launched a massive attack on Kyiv on August 26, when officials said it had fired more than 200 drones and missiles at targets across Ukraine.