Ukraine hit by “massive” Russian night bombings against its energy infrastructure

New “massive” Russian strikes targeted energy infrastructure in Ukraine during the night from Friday to Saturday, the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy reported on Saturday, November 7, in a press release.

“Consumers in the regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, kyiv, Zhytomyr and Kharkiv are currently without electricity. Significant damage has been caused to the transport and distribution networks,” he said, without specifying the number of households affected by these power cuts.

The ministry adds that the strikes in particular caused damage to "numerous energy installations" in the capital region, which "considerably" 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 continues.

On his social networks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that 36 ballistic missiles and 172 drones had been used by Russia to carry out this “combined” attack on the energy sector.

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

Volodymyr 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.

“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.”

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

In total, the strikes on the Ukrainian capital during the night from Friday to Saturday left at least five injured, including a 14-year-old teenager, according to the mayor.

He added that the North Bridge, one of the main bridges spanning the Dnieper, was hit, blocking traffic.

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

Recent Russian strikes have caused significant damage to the energy sector and infrastructure, particularly in the capital, and Ukraine fears another difficult winter in the face of intense bombardment from Moscow.