Ukraine on Thursday accused Russia of unleashing one of its most destructive aerial assaults of the year, striking power plants and civilian infrastructure across nine regions with more than 650 drones and 50 missiles, in what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as an act of "systematic energy terror."
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that several nuclear facilities were directly affected, including substations linked to the South Ukraine, Khmelnitsky, and Rivne Nuclear Power Plants, prompting fears over nuclear safety. "The dangers to nuclear safety continue to be very real and ever-present," said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, calling for "maximum military restraint in the vicinity of nuclear facilities."
Ukrainian officials said at least six people were killed, including a 7-year-old girl, and 18 others wounded, with children among the injured. The strikes triggered blackouts in nearly every region of the country, with national energy operator Ukrenergo warning that rolling power cuts would continue through the weekend as temperatures drop. "Russia continues its systematic energy terror - striking at the lives, dignity, and warmth of Ukrainians on the eve of winter," said Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. "Its goal is to plunge Ukraine into darkness; ours is to keep the light on."
Zelenskyy said energy and civilian infrastructure were hit in Kyiv and multiple regions, calling on Western allies for urgent assistance. "We count on America, Europe, and the G7 countries not to ignore Moscow's intent to destroy everything," he said. "This is outright terror. Normal people don't wage war like this, and the world must respond appropriately to such Russian warfare."
The IAEA reported that one off-site power line was severed at both the South Ukraine and Khmelnitsky facilities, a repeat of previous incidents that nearly forced emergency shutdowns. In a statement, the agency said: "The IAEA has been informed of military activity in Ukraine early this morning that has led to damage to substations critical to nuclear safety and security in Ukraine."
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha added a new layer of concern, claiming Russia used a "secret" ground-launched cruise missile-the 9M729-which had been banned under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. "Russia's use of the INF-banned 9M729 against Ukraine in the past months demonstrates (President Vladimir) Putin's disrespect to the United States and President Trump's diplomatic efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine," Sybiha said in a written statement to Reuters. Ukrainian intelligence sources told the outlet that Russia has fired the missile at Ukraine 23 times since August.
The Russian defense ministry said its forces conducted a "massive" strike on Ukrainian "military-industrial sites, energy infrastructure, and airbases." It also claimed to have downed 170 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 48 in the Bryansk region and nine near Moscow.
