Russian strikes kill children and damage Ukraine’s power system
The barrage intensifies pressure on Ukraine before winter heating demand rises.
Overview
Russia’s latest missile and drone barrage struck homes and Ukraine’s before winter. In , a missile tore through a five-story apartment building and killed civilians, including children. Strikes also damaged energy, industrial and transport facilities in at least 12 regions. The death toll rose as rescuers searched the rubble.
Earlier attacks on power plants and caused emergency cuts, including an outage affecting about 22,000 consumers in . Ukraine says Russia is targeting electricity and fuel supplies before winter, when outages can disrupt heating and basic services. stopped many missiles and drones but could not prevent all damage. Ukraine is repairing the grid, limiting power use and reporting attacks on Russian oil facilities, increasing the risk of further escalation.
Timeline
Ukraine condemns attack and reports counterstrikes
Zelenskyy condemned the barrage and said Ukraine would continue repairs, and what he called . Ukrainian officials reported strikes on Russian oil facilities and other targets in the Perm, Samara and Astrakhan regions, as well as in the Black Sea. remained possible in several Ukrainian regions, underscoring the unresolved winter pressure on the energy system.
Pryluky apartment strike kills children
A missile destroyed part of a five-story apartment building in , Chernihiv region. Initial confirmed reports said five people were killed and 26 injured, including five children, while later casualty figures changed as continued. Strikes also damaged homes and industrial and energy facilities across the country.
Russia launches missiles and drones across Ukraine
Russia attacked at least 12 Ukrainian regions with roughly 70 missiles and about 130 drones, according to Ukrainian officials. The barrage included ballistic and , attack drones and , and hit energy infrastructure, industrial facilities, homes and apartment buildings. Ukraine said air defenses destroyed 161 , but some weapons reached critical sites and populated areas.
Ukraine warns of a massive energy attack
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia was preparing a massive attack, with energy infrastructure expected to be a primary target. The warning followed repeated strikes on energy facilities and transport-linked sites, prompting officials to prepare for further outages and emergency repairs. The forecast attack was expected to test Ukraine’s and .
Poltava energy strike cuts power to 22,000 consumers
A Russian drone struck an energy facility in Poltava region, temporarily leaving about 22,000 without electricity. The incident extended the campaign beyond Kyiv and demonstrated that attacks on regional energy sites could produce immediate civilian outages. Ukrainian authorities reported the strike as part of continuing pressure on the power system.
Emergency power cuts follow infrastructure damage
The September 29-30 strikes damaged power-generation and , while attacks also affected industrial, gas and transport-linked infrastructure. Kyiv and surrounding regions introduced as utilities worked to stabilize the system. The disruption showed how attacks outside residential areas could still affect civilian heating, electricity and fuel access before winter.
Russia opens pre-winter energy campaign
Russia struck energy infrastructure in Kyiv and Kyiv region during a combined missile and drone attack that continued into September 30. Ukrainian officials described the assault as an opening move against before winter, with nearly 190 drones and reportedly involved. The strikes damaged power infrastructure and triggered emergency measures in the capital region.