More than 600,000 people without electricity after Russian strikes

More than 600,000 people in Ukraine’s kyiv region are without power after an overnight Russian attack, officials say.

Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said more than 500,000 of them were in the capital itself, with the rest in the surrounding region. He attributed the power losses to missile and drone strikes on energy infrastructure in the city and several other regions.

About 36 missiles and nearly 600 drones were launched at targets across Ukraine on Saturday, officials said, killing three people and injuring dozens more.

Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukraine’s civilian and energy infrastructure as the troubled country heads into winter, despite U.S.-led efforts to reach a peace deal.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it had launched “a massive strike… against the enterprises of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex and the energy facilities that support their operation.”

In addition to energy infrastructure, several residential buildings were hit during the nighttime strikes, Ukrainian officials said.

Loud explosions were heard across Kyiv early Saturday morning. Emergency services were later seen dealing with burning buildings damaged by successful strikes.

Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said a 13-year-old child was among 29 people injured in the city.

The Ukrainian Air Force said it shot down 558 drones and 19 missiles.

The Ukrainian capital is among several cities that have come under regular aerial bombardment since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

Many Ukrainians have also faced regular power outages as Moscow targeted energy infrastructure in previous winters.

The temperature is forecast to drop to 2°C on Sunday in kyiv, where average temperatures are below zero in December.

Ukraine has targeted Russian energy infrastructure, including refineries and oil depots, particularly with long-range weapons capable of probing deep into Russian territory. He claims this is aimed at reducing revenue for Moscow’s war effort from Russia’s main export.

The latest bombing came as Ukrainian negotiators prepared for talks with U.S. officials this weekend.

US President Donald Trump is pushing for both sides to agree to a draft peace plan, initially strongly favorable to Russia, but later revised during talks with the Ukrainians and their European allies in Geneva.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the diplomatic efforts while stressing the need for kyiv to maintain its sovereignty and ability to repel any future attacks.

On Thursday, President Vladimir Putin reiterated his main demands for an end to the war, saying Russia would only end its offensive if Ukrainian troops withdrew from territory claimed by Moscow.

Russian forces currently control most – but not all – of Ukraine’s eastern Donbass region, as well as parts of the southern Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. American and European allies have called for a freeze in the war along the current front line.

Putin also confirmed that a US delegation including special envoy Steve Witkoff was expected in Moscow in the first half of next week to discuss the draft peace plan.