Massive Russian strikes plunge major Ukrainian cities into blackout

Major Ukrainian cities were left without power following a massive combined Russian military attack on energy infrastructure on the night of November 8, reports The Moscow Times.

The strikes disabled the Trypilska and Zmiivska thermal power plants (TPPs) in the Kyiv and Kharkiv regions. The facilities are owned by the state company Centrenergo, which accounts for 14% of the country’s electricity production. The DTEK thermal power plant was also damaged.

In Kyiv, the attacks left most consumers without electricity. Local media published footage of the city plunged into darkness. Shops, pharmacies, and other institutions are operating on generators and alternative power sources. Power outage schedules have been implemented, according to which residents of the capital will remain without electricity for up to 13.5 hours a day.

The blackout also affected Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city with a population of 1.3 million. The metro is not operating, and water supply is disrupted. The previous day, an emergency meeting was held in the region under the leadership of Ukrainian Energy Minister Svetlana Grinchuk, who described the situation as “difficult” and urged residents to conserve electricity.

Additionally, Poltava lost power, according to Vladimir Kogut, head of the regional military administration. Train services were halted, and boiler houses were switched to alternative energy sources. Poltavaoblenergo released outage schedules for November 9, according to which residents will be without electricity for at least 10 hours.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha reported that on November 8, Russian forces attacked not only TPPs but also substations supplying the Khmelnytskyi and Rivne nuclear power plants. “These were not random strikes, but well-planned attacks,” he emphasized. Sybiha accused Russia of intentionally endangering nuclear safety in Europe and called for an urgent meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors to address these risks.

On the night of November 8, Russia launched 503 aerial attack systems against Ukraine — 458 drones and 45 missiles, including Kinzhal, Kalibr, and ballistic Iskander missiles, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. Twenty-six missiles and 52 drones hit their targets, while the remaining objects were successfully intercepted.

By Khagan Isayev