Russian missile and drone barrage kills six in Ukraine, triggers nationwide blackouts

Smoke marks on the facade of a residential building damaged during a Russian drone and missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, October 22, 2025. (REUTERS)

At least six people, including two children, were killed in a wave of Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine that also triggered widespread power outages on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

Ukrainian officials said Moscow’s latest assault appeared to be part of a systematic campaign to cripple the country’s energy infrastructure ahead of winter. “Most regions of Ukraine were targeted,” Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk said. “This is the second such attack in a month, indicating a methodical campaign by the enemy to destroy Ukraine's energy sector ahead of winter.”

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 405 drones and 28 missiles during the attacks, of which 333 drones and 16 missiles were intercepted by air defence units. Debris from downed weapons set off fires across several districts in Kyiv, including Desnianskyi, Darnytskyi and Pecherskyi—the latter home to the historic Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery.

Two people were killed in Kyiv, and four, including two children, died in the surrounding region, Ukraine’s emergency service said. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that ten people were rescued from a fire in a high-rise building in the Dniprovskyi district, with a child among those hospitalized.

“Within a moment, I started to feel pain on my face… I thought I felt tears, but it was blood,” said Nadiia Zinchuk, a 24-year-old shop worker injured in the attack.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said the strikes targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure in retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilian sites.

The barrage caused emergency power outages in most regions. In Poltava, oil and gas facilities were damaged, while in the southeastern frontline region of Zaporizhzhia, 13 people were injured in overnight strikes, regional governor Ivan Fedorov said.

Authorities across Ukraine have reopened “points of invincibility”—public shelters offering warmth, electricity, and food—for residents coping with blackouts.

Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy grid since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, claiming such facilities are legitimate military objectives.