Kyiv, 30 September, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Russia launched a major overnight missile and drone assault targeting Ukraine energy infrastructure, with Kyiv and its surrounding region bearing much of the attack. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said nearly 190 drones and ballistic missiles were launched, while five people, including a child, were killed and 14 were injured across Ukraine.
Russian missiles and drones target Kyiv and energy sites
Ukraine’s air force said its defences intercepted five missiles and 155 drones during the overnight assault. Kyiv and Kyiv region were among the principal targets, while Ukrainian authorities also reported attacks affecting critical infrastructure elsewhere in the country.
Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi said energy facilities in several regions had been attacked as Moscow intensified pressure on the country’s electricity network ahead of winter.
“Russia has escalated to massive strikes on energy infrastructure,” Koretskyi said, according to Reuters. He added that Ukraine had not faced a combined energy attack of this magnitude since the end of the previous heating season.
Power supplies restored to thousands of Kyiv households
DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, said electricity was restored to around 8,000 households following disruption caused by the attack.
The strikes come at a particularly sensitive point for the Ukrainian power system. Electricity and heating demand typically increases during the colder months, making the protection and repair of generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure a priority for the government.
Ukrainian authorities have been preparing backup electricity systems and additional protective measures around critical facilities ahead of the heating season.
Russia confirms strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure
Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed conducting what it described as a massive overnight strike. Moscow said Russian forces targeted a communications facility in Kyiv, power installations in Kyiv region and port infrastructure at Izmail in the Odesa region.
Reuters reported that it could not independently verify all of Moscow’s claims about the specific targets.
The attack also had consequences beyond Ukraine. Moldova said a drone entered its airspace and exploded near the village of Hirbovet. Poland and Romania scrambled military aircraft, while operations at Poland’s Lublin and Rzeszow airports were temporarily affected during the Russian attack.
Zelenskyy calls for stronger Ukrainian air defences
Zelenskyy has continued to press Ukraine’s international partners for additional air-defence capabilities, particularly systems and interceptors capable of countering Russian ballistic missiles.
“It is extremely important to build our own air defense system and more,” Zelenskyy said earlier in September while discussing Ukraine’s long-term defence requirements.
Ukraine prepares energy network for winter
The renewed assault on Ukraine energy infrastructure increases pressure on repair crews and regional authorities as the country enters another wartime heating season.
Ukraine’s government has ordered officials to accelerate resilience measures, check backup electricity supplies at critical facilities and complete protective work around essential infrastructure.
Repair teams will continue assessing damage and restoring affected facilities, while Kyiv is expected to maintain its requests to European and NATO partners for additional air-defence equipment as Russian strikes continue.
