Russia Strikes Ukraine Energy Sites, Leaves 3 Dead

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A crane operates at the site where multiple residential units have collapsed after an apartment building was struck during a Russian drone attack, amid Russia’s ongoing assault on Ukraine, in Dnipro, Ukraine, November 8, 2025. — Reuters

– Zelensky calls for increased sanctions on Russia over energy strikes.
– Naftogaz reports damage to gas infrastructure.
– Several Ukrainian cities are relying on generators for electricity and water.

Russia conducted a series of drone and missile attacks overnight, resulting in at least three fatalities and significant damage to major energy infrastructure in three regions, Ukrainian officials announced Saturday. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that over 450 drones and 45 missiles were launched by Russia. In Dnipro, a drone strike on an apartment building killed two residents and injured 12. In the Kharkiv region, one person lost their life. Energy facilities in Kyiv, Poltava, and Kharkiv were also damaged, according to Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. The Ukrainian energy company Tsentrenergo highlighted that these attacks are the most severe on its facilities since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022, leading to shutdowns at plants in the Kyiv and Kharkiv regions. Tsentrenergo, responsible for about 8% of Ukraine’s power generation, stated, “The last strike was less than a month ago, and now the enemy has hit all our generation capacity simultaneously. The stations are ablaze! Our generation is now zero.”

Zelensky has called for intensified sanctions against Russia, emphasizing that sanctions should target all Russian energy exports without exceptions, in response to ongoing attacks aimed at disrupting Ukraine’s energy supplies before winter. Since the invasion started nearly four years ago, Russia has regularly targeted Ukraine’s power sector to hinder heating. This autumn alone, the nation has attacked gas facilities nine times within two months, according to Naftogaz.

Moscow’s Defense Ministry claims to have launched a “massive strike” using precision long-range air, ground, and sea-based weapons against Ukraine’s military production and energy facilities in retaliation for Kyiv’s strikes inside Russia. Russia also reported advances in intense battles near Pokrovsk and Kupiansk, including the capture of a small village in eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues drone operations targeting Russian oil installations.

With diplomatic peace talks in decline, Kyiv is focusing on weakening Moscow’s financial capacity to sustain the war effort. Ukrainian forces reported shooting down 406 Russian drones and nine missiles, while 26 Russian missiles and 52 drones struck 25 locations. Svyrydenko mentioned that efforts are underway to restore electricity, water, and heating services. In Poltava, the cities of Kremenchuk (about 200,000 residents) and Horishni Plavni (50,000 residents) lost most of their power and are now using generators to provide water, according to local officials.