Kyiv Faces Blackouts After Russian Strikes Target Energy Infrastructure

Kyiv, Ukraine — A series of airstrikes by Russia on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure resulted in widespread power outages across the capital on October 10, 2025. At least one person was reported killed, and many others were injured as Russia intensified its assault on energy facilities ahead of the winter months.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense stated that the attacks have been relentless since late September, particularly targeting gas production and distribution systems. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky described the strikes as “a cynical and calculated attack,” with over 450 drones and 30 missiles directed at critical infrastructure that supports daily life.

“The primary aim of these strikes is to leave us without power, without water, and without heat,” said Kyiv region Governor Mykola Kalashnyk. Approximately 28,000 families in the Brovary and Boryspil districts are currently without electricity, while power outages have also impacted over 16,500 households and 800 businesses in the Poltava region.

A seven-year-old boy was killed in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, with additional casualties reported in the Cherkasy, Kyiv, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia regions. “At least 33 people were injured overall,” noted Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that around 12 people sustained injuries during the strikes in Kyiv, which caused significant disruptions to both power and water supplies in various parts of the city. Many residents were left scrambling for resources, with people lining up outside shops for bottled water.

“I had to use a generator to keep my coffee shop running,” said Mykyta Varenya, a local business owner. “The outages from last year affected my sales significantly, and now, the situation is repeating itself.”

In the Pecherskyi district, video footage showed firefighters battling flames at a building site and assisting residents. Ukraine’s largest energy company, DTEK Group, reported injuries to one of its workers and severe damage to its substations, marking the third strike on its facilities within a week.

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko stated that repair crews are working around the clock to restore electricity and water supplies across affected regions, with hopes of fully restoring service by the end of the day. Svyrydenko called this assault one of the largest attacks focusing on energy infrastructure thus far in the conflict.

As Ukraine braces for a harsh winter, the government’s energy ministry has reported that over one million households were affected by the recent strikes. Zelensky urged international allies to take decisive action, emphasizing that ineffective sanctions do not deter further aggression from Russia.

The escalating conflict reinforces fears of humanitarian crises as winter approaches, highlighting the ongoing struggle for energy security in Ukraine.