Russia launched a massive wave of missile and drone attacks on Kyiv overnight Friday, killing at least one person and injuring nine others, including a 14-year-old girl, Ukrainian officials said Saturday. The strikes damaged critical energy infrastructure, residential buildings, a kindergarten and a major bridge, further worsening the Ukrainian capital’s electricity, heating and water supply.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia deployed 172 Shahed-type attack drones and 36 ballistic missiles during the overnight assault. The barrage targeted Kyiv and surrounding areas, striking energy facilities and civilian infrastructure as Ukraine continued to face pressure on its power system.
Ukraine’s Air Force said its air defence units intercepted or suppressed four ballistic missiles and 149 drones. Among the drones neutralised were 117 jet-powered models, highlighting the scale and intensity of the latest Russian aerial assault.
The attack came after Zelenskyy had warned of an imminent Russian strike in a post on social media platform X, just hours before the barrage began.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the strikes damaged electricity infrastructure in the Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions, leaving the capital’s power supply in an extremely difficult condition.
The damage also disrupted heating and water services in parts of the city, raising concerns about the impact on residents as Ukraine continues to defend its energy network against repeated Russian attacks.
A 14-year-old girl was among those injured in Kyiv. In the wider Kyiv region, local authorities reported one person killed and two others injured. Emergency services continued assessing the damage and responding to affected locations following the overnight bombardment.
DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, said parts of the Kyiv region remained without electricity on Saturday as repair teams worked to restore power. The extent of the damage to energy facilities raised fresh concerns about the resilience of Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure amid continuing Russian attacks.
Among the damaged civilian structures were residential buildings, a kindergarten and Kyiv’s Northern Bridge, an important transport link in the capital. The targeting and damage of multiple infrastructure sites underscored the widespread impact of the latest assault.
Zelenskyy strongly condemned the strikes on Saturday, accusing Moscow of escalating attacks against critical infrastructure even as preparations continued for another round of diplomatic negotiations.
“Russia is preparing for the trilateral talks by launching ballistic missiles at Ukrainian critical infrastructure,” Zelenskyy said.
His remarks reflected Kyiv’s growing frustration over continued Russian military operations ahead of diplomatic efforts involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States.
Russia’s Defence Ministry, meanwhile, said its forces had struck military-industrial, energy and transport infrastructure in Kyiv and the surrounding region. Moscow described the targets as facilities supporting Ukraine’s military capabilities, maintaining its position that the strikes were directed against military-related infrastructure.
The latest bombardment comes at a sensitive diplomatic moment, with representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the United States scheduled to hold trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11.
The planned meeting is expected to provide another opportunity to discuss possible steps towards ending the war, although continued fighting and attacks on critical infrastructure highlight the substantial obstacles facing negotiations.
The timing of the strikes has intensified questions over Moscow’s intentions ahead of the talks. While diplomatic preparations continue, Russia’s latest missile and drone assault has added to the humanitarian and infrastructure challenges facing Ukraine.
For Kyiv residents, the immediate priority remains restoring electricity, heating and water supplies while emergency and repair crews assess the damage. With parts of the region still experiencing power disruptions, the consequences of the overnight attack are likely to extend beyond the immediate casualties.
