Russia Launches Deadly Attack on Ukraine, Power Outages Reported Across Multiple Regions

In the early hours of November 17, Russia conducted a large-scale attack on Ukraine, employing drones, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and hypersonic weapons. Energy facilities across several regions were targeted, resulting in civilian casualties and significant infrastructure damage.

Attack Details

According to Ukraine’s Air Force, the attack began with waves of drones during the night, followed by missile launches from strategic bombers and naval platforms. Around 3:17 AM, seven Tu-95MS bombers took off from Olenegorsk, and drones moved predominantly across eastern Ukraine.

At approximately 6:00 AM, air-launched cruise missiles and Kalibr missiles were deployed, with ballistic missiles striking central regions. Hypersonic missiles, including Kinzhal and Zircon, were launched later.

Kyiv Under Fire

The capital suffered significant damage, with air raid alarms sounding twice, lasting nearly five hours. In the Pechersk district, debris from intercepted missiles caused fires in a residential building, injuring two women. Thirty residents were evacuated. Additional missile fragments hit Golosiiv and Dnipro districts, damaging residential and non-residential areas. Kyiv’s air defense reportedly intercepted multiple cruise missiles, drones, and hypersonic projectiles.

Other Affected Regions

• Mykolaiv: Waves of Shahed drones caused extensive damage to residential and commercial properties. Two women were killed, and six others, including two children, were injured.

• Dnipro: A 42-year-old man sustained injuries as missiles struck residential buildings, a school, and a vehicle. Fires were reported in the Samarsky and Kamyansky districts.

• Zaporizhzhia: Russian strikes injured two individuals and damaged critical infrastructure, according to local authorities.

• Lviv, Zhytomyr, and Poltava regions: Debris from missiles caused fires and structural damage, leaving several injured and one fatality in Lviv.

• Kherson: A drone strike on a vehicle killed one man.

• Rivne region: A critical infrastructure facility became the target of an Russian missile strike.

• Volyn region: Russian missile hits energy infrastructure facility.

Impact on Energy Infrastructure

Russian missiles targeted power generation and transmission facilities across Ukraine, triggering emergency power outages in Kyiv, Dnipro, Donetsk, and Odesa. Several regions reported damaged heating and water supply systems. German Galushchenko, Ukraine’s energy minister, confirmed extensive damage to energy facilities, with emergency crews working to restore operations.

Railway Disruptions

Missile strikes on railway infrastructure in Dnipropetrovsk region killed two workers and injured three. Train services were delayed due to power outages in southern, western, and northeastern Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian air defense intercepted over 140 aerial targets, including Shahed drones and various missile types. “Russia’s aim was to cripple our energy infrastructure,” Zelenskyy emphasized. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the attack as a deliberate escalation.

This marks one of the most extensive coordinated attacks on Ukraine in recent months.