Russian forces launched one of their largest assaults on Ukraine’s energy system overnight into Oct. 17, striking more than 15 power facilities as attacks across the country killed civilians, wounded dozens and left some homes without electricity, Ukrainian officials said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said the targets included generation and transmission facilities in several regions, with particularly hard-hit areas including Lutsk, Rivne, Zhytomyr and Vinnytsia. Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 332 drones overnight, including 31 jet-powered models, and Ukrainian forces reported downing or suppressing 289 of them. The reported civilian toll varied between same-day accounts: one tally put deaths at seven and injuries at about 90, while another reported at least eight killed and 60 injured.
The attacks also damaged residential and civilian sites, including a shopping centre in Rivne, according to Ukrainian authorities. Energy facilities were hit in multiple regions, and the Energy Ministry said outages followed the strikes as repair crews worked to restore electricity. Zelensky described the assault as part of a wider campaign against the country’s energy infrastructure, which Ukrainian officials fear will leave people more vulnerable as winter approaches.