Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone assault across Ukraine early on 17 November, targeting power infrastructure and striking residential areas, according to Ukrainian authorities. The attacks impacted several major cities, leading to extensive power outages and civilian casualties.
Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko described the assault as “massive,” marking one of the most intensive strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid since early September. Meanwhile, Poland responded by deploying fighter jets to patrol its airspace as a precautionary measure.
Ukrainian military sources report that early this morning, seven Russian Tu-95MS bombers launched a significant wave of cruise missiles from Olenegorsk, which entered Ukrainian airspace around 6:30 a.m. For nearly an hour, the bombardment struck major cities, including Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, and Zaporizhzhia, with air raid sirens sounding and residents seeking shelter. The strikes caused widespread power outages, amplifying a sustained Russian offensive targeting critical infrastructure across Ukraine.
The assault combined a range of munitions, including “Shahed” drones, cruise missiles, and advanced ballistic weapons like hypersonic Zircon, Iskander, and Kinzhal missiles, aiming to disrupt Ukraine’s energy systems. Ukrainian authorities estimate that around 120 missiles and 90 drones were deployed in the attack, with the objective of crippling essential infrastructure nationwide. Despite the scale and intensity of this offensive, Ukraine’s air defence forces successfully intercepted 144 out of the 210 missiles and drones fired by Russia, significantly reducing the potential impact on energy and civilian infrastructure.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, air defence operations activated in almost every region, including Kyiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Odesa, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, Rivne, Volyn, and Lviv. In several regions, 41 Russian drones were downed, with two others reported to have veered towards Russian-occupied areas.
This coordinated defensive response, involving widespread activation of air defence systems and personnel, significantly mitigated the impact of the strikes. Nevertheless, Ukraine’s energy infrastructure remains severely strained under the frequency and intensity of ongoing attacks, creating persistent challenges for repair and stabilisation efforts as winter approaches.
In Mykolaiv, a tragic toll emerged from the strikes, where a Russian drone hit a residential building, killing two women and injuring four adults and two children. Vitaliy Kim, the governor of Mykolaiv region, confirmed the fatalities and stated that one child had been hospitalised, while another was receiving psychological support.
Widespread Power Disruptions in Key Cities
The attacks targeted key energy infrastructure across Ukraine, with cities such as Odesa experiencing city-wide power outages that crippled public transportation systems. Gennadiy Trukhanov, the mayor of Odesa, confirmed that all electric transport in the city was halted due to the power cuts. Explosions were also reported in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, and the Cherkasy region, sending emergency teams into action to assess the damage and restore basic services where possible.
In Kyiv’s Pechersk district, a residential building caught fire following a Russian missile strike, leaving one woman injured. According to Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko, debris from an intercepted missile struck the roof of a five-story building, igniting a fire.
Ukraine’s energy grid operator implemented emergency power shutdowns to limit further damage to the national grid. Galushchenko announced that “a massive attack on our energy system is ongoing,” noting that repair crews were already working to restore service in areas deemed safe for operations.
Poland Scrambles Fighter Jets in Response to Regional Tensions
As Russian missiles penetrated Ukraine’s western airspace, Poland, a NATO member, responded by scrambling fighter jets as a precaution. Poland’s Operational Command confirmed that both Polish and allied aircraft were mobilised to monitor Polish skies.
“Due to a massive attack by Russia, which is carrying out strikes using cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drones against sites located, among other places, in western Ukraine, operations by Polish and allied aircraft have begun,” stated Poland’s command.
Targeted Assault on Civilian Infrastructure
The assault is part of Russia’s ongoing campaign to destabilise Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, a tactic that has continued despite international sanctions and condemnation. Since the war began, Ukraine’s critical infrastructure—specifically its electricity, water, and heating systems—has repeatedly been targeted, especially as winter draws closer.
Image source: STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE OF UKRAINE
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