Russia launched one of its sweeping multi-wave bombardments of Ukraine's energy infrastructure on Tuesday, firing a reported 365 missiles and drones and knocking
out power across multiple regions. The assault targeted power plants and substations from the Black Sea port of Odesa in the south to Rivne in western Ukraine, as Kyiv and Moscow prepare to return to US-brokered peace talks next week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia deployed 289 drones, 17 ballistic missiles and 59 cruise missiles in the attack. The strikes disrupted electricity supplies in the capital Kyiv and at least six other regions, while Ukraine's largest private energy-generating company, DTEK, reported that three of its five thermal power plants had been knocked offline. The bombardment also affected railway infrastructure, with Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi reporting damage to passenger carriages, locomotives and a train station.
Three DTEK power plants knocked offline
The scale of the damage underlined the pressure on Ukraine's energy network as the country approaches the colder winter months. DTEK said three of its five thermal power plants had been forced offline following the Russian strikes. Ukrainian officials reported power outages across Kyiv and at least six other regions.
Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had targeted electricity facilities in several Ukrainian regions that supply power to military factories and the Ukrainian army.
During more than four years of war, Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukraine's energy system, targeting electricity generation, distribution networks and heating facilities. Such strikes have intensified over successive years, with the approach of winter adding urgency to Ukraine's efforts to protect critical infrastructure.
Zelenskiy says Russian attack timed with US elections
Zelenskiy highlighted the timing of Tuesday's bombardment, linking it to the US congressional elections and calling for additional air defence support. "It is very telling that all of this is happening on the day of the US congressional elections," the Ukrainian President said.
"The Russians believe that America will not notice this signal from them. But such terror must be noticed and stopped," he added. His remarks came as Kyiv continues to press its Western partners for additional air defence capabilities to counter Russia's repeated missile and drone attacks.
Kyiv hits Russian oil refinery in Yaroslavl
While Russian strikes disrupted Ukraine's power network, Russian officials said Ukrainian drones had set fire to a major oil refinery in the city of Yaroslavl during an overnight attack. The reported strike is part of Ukraine's stepped-up campaign against Russian oil refineries this year. Kyiv has increasingly targeted Russian energy infrastructure as the war continues, bringing the two countries' energy networks into the wider battlefield.
The latest exchange comes despite US President Donald Trump's announcements in September and October that both sides had agreed to halt attacks on energy targets. Neither Russia nor Ukraine confirmed such an agreement.
Trump has largely criticised Ukraine for continuing strikes on Russian territory, while describing Russia's conduct as "fine".
Energy ceasefire likely to feature in upcoming peace talks
The latest attacks come at a sensitive moment for diplomatic efforts to end the war. Kyiv and Moscow are planning to hold trilateral peace talks with the United States next week in Abu Dhabi. The meeting would be the first such round since February.
Zelenskiy has said discussions on a proposed energy ceasefire will be high on Ukraine's agenda. However, Tuesday's bombardment and the reported Ukrainian strike on the Yaroslavl refinery highlight the continuing difficulty of securing an agreement to protect critical energy infrastructure.
With electricity supplies disrupted across multiple Ukrainian regions and both sides continuing to target energy assets, the issue is likely to be central to the next round of negotiations.
