The Ukrainian capital has been hit by a “massive attack,” Vitaly Klitschko has claimed, as drones reportedly targeted a key power plant

©  State Emergency Service of Ukraine / Telegram

A wave of Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has caused a large-scale blackout in Kiev, local media and officials have reported. Russia’s Ministry of Defense has yet to comment.

In the early hours of Friday, Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko claimed that the Ukrainian capital came under a “massive attack,” adding that the left bank of Kiev was “currently without power” and that there were also problems with water distribution. He said nine people were injured, with five of them taken to the hospital. “The situation is difficult.”

Klitschko also reported several fires in the city, urging citizens to “stay in shelters,” adding that work is underway to restore power.

 

According to Ukrainian media outlets, several Russian drones targeted Kiev’s Thermal Power Plant No. 6, one of the city’s key electricity suppliers. The reported strike caused widespread outages, with some local channels also claiming that parts of the right bank had lost power.

 

Videos posted on social media appear to show much of Kiev plunged into darkness. In one clip, a powerful explosion was followed by the lights going out along a major highway.

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky later claimed that the Russian strike targeting the nation’s energy infrastructure involved more than 450 drones and more than 30 missiles. He reported power outages not only in Kiev, but also in Donetsk, Chernigov, Cherkasy, Kharkov, Sumy, Poltava, and Odessa Regions. Zelensky added that some areas in Dnepropetrovsk, Zaporozhye, Kirovograd, and Kherson Regions are also recovering from the attack.

Elsewhere, officials in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporozhye also reported a Russian attack and fires, noting that one person died of his injuries in the hospital, with two others in serious condition.

READ MORE: Ukraine has lost 60% of gas output – Bloomberg

Russia has been conducting strikes on Ukraine’s military-related infrastructure and defense industrial complex. It says the attacks are retaliation for Kiev’s “terrorist” raids into Russia, which often target critical infrastructure and residential areas. Moscow maintains that it never target civilians.