Russian strike on Ukrainian energy grid leaves more than 1M without power

A Russian strike on energy infrastructure in western Ukraine on Thursday left more than 1 million people without power, according to local officials.

Electricity was knocked out for more than 500,000 households in the Lviv region due to the attack, according to regional Gov. Maksym Kozytskyi. Rivne Gov. Oleksandr Koval said the strike also cut off power for more than 280,000 households in the region, The Associated Press reported.

“The Commander of the Air Force, along with the Ministers of Internal Affairs and Energy, provided reports regarding the aftermath of the latest Russian strike targeting our energy infrastructure,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on the social platform X early Thursday.

“In total, approximately 100 strike drones and over 90 missiles of various types were launched,” he continued. “Several regions reported Kalibr missile strikes with cluster munitions, deliberately aimed at civilian infrastructure.”

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine, along with its allies, have ratcheted up in recent weeks after President Biden approved Ukraine’s use of Western-made long-range missiles to strike targets in Russian territory. The move displeased Russia and frustrated global allies of President-elect Trump, who has a history of being somewhat critical toward Ukraine.

A spokesperson for the Kremlin, in response to the decision, noted comments from Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this year when he warned that Russia would see itself in direct conflict with the U.S. and NATO if they allowed Ukraine to use the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) within the nation’s borders.

“If this decision is taken, it will mean nothing less than the direct involvement of NATO countries, the United States and European countries in the war in Ukraine,” Putin said at the time.

The Russian military, in response, fired a new, intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine. The news was confirmed last week by Putin during a wide-ranging TV address sharply criticizing the U.S. for escalating the war, after Ukraine accused them of firing a more dangerous intercontinental ballistic missile. 

The launch, which Putin called a “test,” came days after he lowered the nuclear threshold, renewing fears that he could deploy a nuclear weapon against Ukraine.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.