Russian raids cut off electricity to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv

Russian missile and drone attacks overnight caused a power outage in large parts of the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.

The city’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said that nine people were injured, while residents of the eastern regions were plunged into darkness and faced an interruption in water supplies.

Meanwhile, a seven-year-old boy was killed in a separate Russian drone strike in the Zaporizhzhya region in the country’s southeast, according to the Ukrainian regional president.

Moscow has escalated its attacks on energy facilities in recent weeks, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of trying to “create chaos and exert psychological pressure.”

Ukrainian Energy Minister Svetlana Hrynchuk said Russia “dealt a massive blow” to facilities across the country on Thursday night, adding that repair crews were working to restore power.

A wave of strikes hit energy infrastructure and residential buildings in Kyiv.

Klitschko said that five of the nine people injured in the attacks on the capital were taken to hospital.

Ukraine’s state emergency services posted photos of firefighters putting out fires in a 10-storey building.

Ivan Fedorov, the regional head of Zaporizhia, said the city came under intense attacks overnight. A seven-year-old child died and three other people were injured.

These attacks come after nights of air strikes in the region and parts of it Russia is currently in control.

All of Ukraine is on alert for attacks with hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, which are difficult to detect.

Zelensky told reporters on Thursday that Russia was deliberately trying to destroy the country’s energy grid, with attacks already disabling gas facilities.

He added that energy workers and authorities are preparing for more attacks.