### Massive Russian Drone and Missile Attack Targets Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure, Killing Civilians

In what officials are describing as the most substantial assault in recent months, Russia has conducted a substantial drone and missile strike on Ukraine, focusing largely on energy infrastructure and resulting in civilian casualties. The attack has increased concerns about Moscow’s strategy to compromise Ukraine’s power generation capacity ahead of the winter season.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed that Russia launched a total of 120 missiles and 90 drones in a coordinated attack across multiple regions of Ukraine. The offensive deployed various types of drones, including Iranian-made Shaheds, along with cruise, ballistic, and aircraft-launched ballistic missiles. Ukrainian air defenses reportedly shot down 144 out of the 210 air targets.

The primary target was Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, resulting in significant damage from direct hits and falling debris. In the city of Mykolaiv, a drone strike led to the deaths of two people and injuries to six others, including two children. Additional casualties were reported in the Odesa region, where an attack disrupted power and water supplies and claimed the lives of two Ukrenergo employees, according to local Governor Oleh Kiper.

This combined drone and missile strike is regarded as the most powerful assault in three months, as stated by Serhii Popko, head of Kyiv's City Military Administration. Although Kyiv's historic center witnessed a fire at a five-story residential building due to the attack, only one person was injured. A thermal power plant, operated by DTEK, also sustained serious damage.

Since Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russian strikes have persistently targeted Ukraine's power infrastructure, causing frequent emergency power shutdowns and nationwide rolling blackouts. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly urged Western allies to enhance the nation's air defenses to mitigate such attacks and facilitate necessary repairs.

Explosions were reported across various regions of Ukraine, including Kyiv and the vital southern port city of Odesa, alongside western and central parts of the country.

In response to the attack, Poland's armed forces command mobilized Polish and allied aircraft, including fighter jets, in Polish airspace to ensure safety in the border areas.

Russia’s Defense Ministry admitted to carrying out the "mass" drone and missile offensive, claiming that all targeted facilities were linked to Ukraine's military industry. However, the U.N.’s nuclear energy watchdog reported that several electrical substations crucial to Ukraine's nuclear plants were damaged, reducing the operational capacity of the reactors.

In a related development, Ukrainian drones struck multiple locations in Russia. A journalist was killed in the Kursk region, and a man died in the Belgorod province when a drone dropped explosives on his car. Another drone targeted a factory in Izhevsk, causing minimal damage and a minor injury.

This series of offensives highlights the escalating military tensions as winter approaches, emphasizing the critical need for reinforced defenses and international support for Ukraine.