Aerial Strikes Hit Kyiv as Partial Power Outages Disrupt Ukrainian Capital

Russia launched a massive attack on Kyiv Friday morning, knocking out power across the eastern parts of Ukraine's capital and hitting energy infrastructure nationwide. Nine people were injured when a residential building was struck, and subway services shut down on the eastern side of the Dnipro River.

Multiple explosions echoed through the city as attack drones buzzed overhead. The assault targeted Ukraine's power grid systematically, leaving entire neighborhoods without electricity or running water.

Ukraine's Energy Ministry said the strikes hit power facilities across the country, not just in the capital. This marks another escalation in Russia's campaign against civilian infrastructure, a strategy that has intensified as winter approaches.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that the entire eastern bank of the city lost power, with water supply systems also affected. Metro trains stopped running on that side of the Dnipro River until further notice, stranding commuters and disrupting daily life for hundreds of thousands of residents.

The timing appears deliberate. Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's energy grid during colder months, aiming to break civilian morale by cutting heating and electricity when people need it most. These attacks on civilian infrastructure have drawn international condemnation as potential war crimes.

For Ukraine's government, keeping the lights on has become as critical as battlefield victories. Each major infrastructure attack forces difficult choices about where to allocate limited repair resources and backup power supplies. Hospitals, schools, and essential services compete for the remaining electricity.

The pattern shows Russia's shift toward targeting civilian resilience rather than just military targets. But Ukraine has proven remarkably adaptable, developing backup systems and rapid repair capabilities that have kept the country functioning despite repeated infrastructure attacks.