A series of Russian drone and missile attacks across Ukraine from late Saturday into early Sunday has killed six people, including two children, and left tens of thousands without electricity, Ukrainian officials reported.
The overnight bombardment primarily targeted southern and central regions of the country, injuring at least a dozen others. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office posted on Telegram that “Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions. Six people died, including two children.”
Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, confirmed that the fatalities included two boys, aged 11 and 14. Authorities said that rescue teams were deployed to affected areas and that hospitals were treating the injured.
In the southern Zaporizhzhia region, a separate Russian strike left nearly 58,000 households without power, regional governor Ivan Fedorov said. Power restoration crews are working around the clock to repair damaged infrastructure, though wintertime conditions are expected to slow recovery efforts.
Moscow has yet to comment publicly on the latest attacks. The Russian government continues to deny deliberately targeting civilians, asserting that its strikes are aimed at infrastructure linked to Ukraine’s defence capabilities. Kyiv, however, maintains that such attacks are intended to break civilian morale and cripple the country’s energy network ahead of winter.
The assault comes amid Russia’s nearly four-year-long invasion, despite repeated calls from the United States and its allies for a ceasefire. Ukrainian officials argue that Moscow’s targeting of energy facilities demonstrates a strategy focused on destruction rather than negotiation.
In a retaliatory measure, Ukrainian forces launched a drone strike early on Sunday against the Russian Black Sea port of Tuapse. Regional officials reported that the attack set an oil tanker ablaze and caused damage to port infrastructure, signalling Kyiv’s continued capability to strike targets deep inside Russian-controlled territory.
A summary of the key details of the attacks is provided below:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Fatalities | 6 (including 2 children, aged 11 and 14) |
| Injured | At least 12 |
| Affected Regions | Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia |
| Households Without Power | Nearly 58,000 (Zaporizhzhia) |
| Ukrainian Retaliation | Drone strike on Tuapse port; oil tanker set ablaze |
| Russian Statement | Denies targeting civilians; claims strikes target defence infrastructure |
| Ukrainian Statement | Attacks aim to break morale and damage energy networks |
The attacks underscore the continued volatility of the conflict and highlight the severe humanitarian and infrastructural toll on Ukraine, as well as the ongoing risks posed to civilians in contested areas.