kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – New “massive” Russian strikes targeted energy infrastructure in Ukraine during the night from Friday to Saturday, said kyiv, which denounced these attacks as a means of “pressure” used by Moscow before the resumption of trilateral negotiations expected next week.

Published on: 07/11/2026 - 16:08

According to the Ukrainian military, Russia struck the country with 36 ballistic missiles and 172 drones, leading to power outages in five regions (Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, kyiv, Zhytomyr and Kharkiv).

“Significant damage has been caused to the transmission and distribution networks,” announced the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy, without specifying the number of households affected by these power cuts.

Recent Russian strikes have already caused significant damage to the energy sector and infrastructure, particularly in the capital, and Ukraine fears new massive cuts in electricity, heating and water in the middle of winter, like last year.

“By intensifying, at this very moment, its attacks against Ukraine and our infrastructure, Russia is seeking (...) to prepare the ground to put pressure on the positions of Ukraine and those of its partners,” denounced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a message on his X account.

Mr. Zelensky estimated that these bombings were Russia's way of "preparing" for the trilateral meeting scheduled for November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi between envoys from kyiv, Washington and Moscow, to try to relaunch the negotiation process currently at a standstill since the outbreak of war in the Middle East in February.

“We are counting on increased bilateral support from the United States. We are counting on the American Congress to pay greater attention to Ukraine. Because Russia is constantly increasing its attacks,” said Mr. Zelensky.

He stressed that only four of the 36 missiles launched by Moscow during the night were able to be neutralized by Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses, which suffers from a "serious shortage" of American-made Patriot interceptors capable of shooting down ballistic missiles.

“At all levels, we are looking for ways to speed up deliveries and send the necessary messages to the American side, so that Ukraine has the means to protect lives,” the Ukrainian leader said on this subject.

According to Mr. Zelensky, Moscow notably used KN-23 ballistic missiles, "manufactured and delivered by North Korea", to strike a "key energy infrastructure" which had suffered damage.

“Numerous installations” damaged

According to the Ukrainian Energy Ministry, the strikes caused significant damage to "many energy installations" in the capital region, which "significantly" hampers the delivery of electricity to kyiv and its region.

“Energy sector workers are working at full capacity. Work is slowed down by incessant air alerts,” he continued.

The Ukrainian energy group Naftogaz also indicated that one of its sites in central Ukraine had suffered damage during three air attacks overnight.

According to Mr. Zelensky, at least nine people were injured, including a child, during these strikes which affected around ten regions of the country.

In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said it had struck overnight "facilities of the military-industrial complex, the energy sector and transport infrastructure" in kyiv and its region.

In the capital region, he claimed to have notably hit a thermal power station, an electrical substation and an explosives factory.

Earlier, on Saturday morning, the mayor of kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, announced that Russian strikes overnight had damaged a major road bridge and energy infrastructure in kyiv and its region, disrupting supplies to the capital.

"The energy supply situation in the capital is extremely difficult. This affects the operation of the city's heating and water supply systems," Klitschko said on Telegram.

He said the North Bridge, one of the main bridges spanning the Dnieper, had been hit, blocking traffic.

This structure had already been struck in October, prompting the authorities to install anti-drone nets to try to protect it, a first in the capital since the start of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

© 2026 AFP

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