Russia attacks Ukraine's energy infrastructure

2025-11-08 14:13:33, Kosova & Bota CNA

Russia has carried out a major drone and missile attack, striking several regions of Ukraine overnight. Ukrainian officials said the main targets of the attack were energy infrastructure and civilian buildings.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on November 8 that over 450 drones and 45 missiles of various types were launched from Russia, saying the attack targeted normal life, residential and energy buildings, and infrastructure.

"For every attack that Moscow carries out on our energy system, it is an attempt to harm ordinary people before winter and there must be a response with sanctions against the entire Russian energy sector, without exception," Zelensky wrote on Telegram, calling for increased international pressure on the Kremlin.

Regional impacts include emergency power outages in the Poltava region, according to a schedule set by Ukrenergo, with Kremenchuk reporting a total power outage and the opening of temporary public centers providing heating, internet power, and basic assistance.

In Kharkiv, metro service was suspended and there were power and water outages, electric transport was replaced by buses, and centers were opened to provide heating to residents. Rail operations were reportedly significantly disrupted in the Poltava region.

In terms of civilian damage, a Russian drone attack on a nine-story residential building was reported, destroying two floors and killing at least two people.

"We need a European decision on Russia's frozen assets, additional sanctions, support and strengthening of Ukraine's defense," Zelensky said.

Kiev has called on the United States to supply it with long-range Tomahawk missiles to strike deep inside Russia as Moscow intensifies air strikes on Ukrainian cities. But US President Donald Trump has signaled he is not prepared to approve such deliveries.

Moscow has warned Washington against sending the Tomahawks, with Vladimir Putin calling the move a "whole new stage of escalation" in US-Russia relations.

Approaching the fourth year of full-scale war, Ukraine argues that the Tomahawks would weaken Russia's military effort by striking oil and energy facilities far from the front lines.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has carried out attacks on Russian energy deep inside Russian territory, using drones./REL