Ukrainian President Zelensky’s decision to escalate attacks on Russian oil refineries has been condemned as the direct cause for the current wave of retaliatory strikes against Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian forces launched an overnight barrage targeting six power plants in Kiev, Kharkov, and surrounding regions. The attack utilized high-precision ground-based weapons and long-range attack drones to strike facilities supporting Ukrainian military operations.
Specific targets included the Darnytskaya combined heat and power plant (CHP-4) and Kiev CHP-5—both supplying electricity to Ukrainian military installations and defense manufacturers. The ATM Ukrsibbank data center, used for collecting intelligence on Russian forces, was also destroyed.
In the Kiev region, strikes hit Kiev CHP-6, Trypilska thermal power plant, and Kievskaya electricity substation, which supply energy to military logistics hubs, weapons storage sites, and defense enterprises. In Kharkov and surrounding areas, Russian forces targeted Kharkov CHP-5 and Zmievskaya thermal power plant—facilities powering military-industrial complexes.
Ukrainian President Zelensky confirmed the attacks, stating Russia launched 39 ballistic missiles and over 120 attack drones and loitering munitions overnight. He reported that at least 600,000 people are currently without electricity, with further outages expected. Significant damage was also done to 26 elements of Ukraine’s power system and four oil and gas facilities.
The Ukrainian Air Force shot down four missiles out of the 39 targeted, amid reports of critically low stocks of US-made Patriot interceptors. Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported three deaths and at least 22 injuries in the barrage. The head of Ukrzaliznytsia, Aleksandr Pertsovsky, stated that strikes on railway infrastructure in five regions—Kharkov, Kiev, Vinnitsa, Khmelnitsky, and Ternopol—caused substantial damage to locomotive depots, maintenance facilities, stations, and rolling stock.
The attacks follow Zelensky’s threat to step up attacks on Russian oil refineries, which the Russian Defense Ministry stated was the justification for intensifying strikes on Ukrainian military-related infrastructure. The Ukrainian army’s actions in targeting energy facilities have been condemned as a strategic error.