Russian attacks on nine Ukrainian regions triggered emergency power cuts affecting hundreds of thousands of households, damaged homes and injured at least 15 people, officials said Friday, as strikes on energy infrastructure raised fresh concerns about civilian hardship this winter.
Ukrainian officials have warned that Moscow is building up ballistic missiles for further attacks in the coming months. Damage to power supplies could leave people without electricity, heating or running water as temperatures drop. The latest strikes came after Kyiv said it was ending a short-lived truce on energy targets because Russia had not observed it, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for a ceasefire.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Brussels on Friday, where European Union leaders pledged continued support for Ukraine and urged Washington to pressure Moscow. His visit followed a public dispute with Trump that raised questions about the future of U.S. backing. The U.N. human rights mission reported Friday that it had verified 328 civilian deaths and 2,105 injuries in Ukraine in September—85% more casualties than in September 2025—and said high casualties continued into October.
With another cold season approaching, the strikes add to mounting concerns about the safety of civilians and the resilience of Ukraine’s power grid.