Massive Drone Strikes Leave Parts of Ukraine Without Power as Zelensky Appeals for Stronger European Support

Large-scale Russian drone attacks overnight plunged several regions of Ukraine into darkness, damaging power infrastructure and leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity. The strikes — among the most intense in recent weeks — have once again highlighted Ukraine’s vulnerability to sustained aerial assaults as winter approaches.

According to local authorities, waves of Iranian-made Shahed drones targeted critical energy facilities across multiple cities, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro. Emergency crews worked through the night to contain fires and restore partial power, but officials warned that repairs could take days.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks as a deliberate attempt to “break the spirit” of the Ukrainian people. In his nightly address, he confirmed that Ukraine had successfully intercepted many of the incoming drones but acknowledged that the scale of the bombardment had overwhelmed some defense systems.

In response, Zelensky has renewed his appeal to European leaders for greater air defense assistance and accelerated delivery of promised weapons systems. “Every delay means more destruction, more suffering,” he said, urging allies not to allow “war fatigue” to weaken their resolve.

European officials have expressed growing concern over Russia’s renewed targeting of Ukraine’s energy grid, which could trigger a humanitarian crisis during the colder months. Discussions are underway in Brussels about increasing the supply of anti-drone technology, generators, and energy support equipment to help Ukraine withstand the winter.

The latest attacks come amid escalating fighting in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces are pushing to regain lost territory. Analysts warn that Moscow’s renewed focus on infrastructure is aimed at crippling Ukraine’s energy resilience and forcing civilians into hardship as a means of pressure.

Despite the destruction, Zelensky vowed that Ukraine would endure. “We have rebuilt before, and we will rebuild again,” he said. “Our power may go out, but our determination never will.”

Author: M.J