Zelensky says Russian strikes hit infrastructure in Kyiv and 12 regions, energy sector targeted

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russian forces launched a large-scale air attack involving approximately 70 missiles, many of them ballistic, along with Shahed-type drones, in a strike that primarily targeted the country's energy infrastructure.

According to Zelensky, the attack caused damage to infrastructure in the capital, Kyiv, as well as in 12 other regions across Ukraine. The president identified the energy sector as a key target of the assault, consistent with a pattern of Russian strikes aimed at degrading Ukraine's power generation and distribution capacity.

Pattern of energy-focused strikes

Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure since the start of its full-scale invasion, particularly during the colder months, in moves Ukrainian officials have characterized as efforts to undermine civilian morale and complicate daily life for the population ahead of winter.

Zelensky's statement did not include a detailed breakdown of casualties or the extent of material damage from this specific attack, though the use of a mixed barrage of ballistic missiles and drones reflects a tactic Russia has employed in previous large-scale strikes, designed to overwhelm air defense systems.

Ukrainian authorities have not yet provided an estimate of how many missiles and drones were intercepted versus how many struck their intended targets. Repair and restoration efforts for affected infrastructure are typically mobilized quickly following such attacks, though full recovery timelines can vary significantly depending on the scale of damage.