Russian strikes on Kyiv region have injured five people, including a child, and damaged a major bridge and energy facilities, raising further concerns about Ukraine’s ability to protect its power and heating systems as winter approaches.
The overnight attacks also affected energy infrastructure in the neighbouring Zhytomyr region, according to Ukrainian authorities. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the damage, saying the strikes had disrupted parts of the capital’s heating and water supply systems.
“The situation regarding the capital’s energy supply is extremely difficult,” Klitschko wrote in a post on Telegram.
The Pivnichnyi Bridge, an important transport link in Kyiv, was also damaged during the attack. Authorities closed it in both directions while specialists examined the structure and assessed the extent of the damage.
In a subsequent video message recorded at the site, Klitschko said the bridge’s road surface, trolleybus overhead line and power line had been affected. The blast wave also damaged five vehicles parked nearby.
Five people were wounded in the attack on the capital, including a child, the mayor said. Authorities did not immediately provide further details about the injured.
The latest strikes came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia was preparing further attacks against the country’s energy infrastructure and civilian facilities. In a video address on Friday night, he renewed his appeal to international partners to provide more Patriot air defence interceptor missiles.
Zelenskyy said Russia was targeting critical components of Ukraine’s electricity network, including power grids, transformers and switchgear. These attacks can disrupt electricity distribution even when power stations are producing sufficient energy.
“That is why even when we have enough generating capacity, some regions unfortunately still face shortages,” he said.
The warning comes as Ukraine continues to seek additional air defence equipment to protect its cities and essential infrastructure from Russian missile and drone attacks.
The United States State Department recently approved a $2.1 billion package of Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles for Ukraine. However, Zelenskyy has warned that deliveries could take years, raising concerns about whether the weapons will arrive quickly enough to meet the country’s immediate defence needs.
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Patriot systems are among the most advanced air defence platforms available to Ukraine. They are designed to intercept different aerial threats, including aircraft and ballistic missiles, making them particularly important in defending major cities and critical infrastructure.
Ukraine has repeatedly urged its Western allies to accelerate weapons deliveries, particularly as temperatures fall and the country faces another winter under the threat of attacks on its energy network.
Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has repeatedly targeted electricity generation, transmission and distribution facilities. Previous attacks have left millions of Ukrainians facing power cuts and disruptions to essential services during winter.
The latest damage in Kyiv and Zhytomyr highlights the continued pressure on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, despite ongoing efforts to strengthen its air defences.
Zelenskyy also said he had spoken with the team responsible for coordinating Ukraine’s long-range strike operations against Russian targets. He warned that Moscow would face a response, although he did not provide further operational details.
