Deadly overnight Russia-Ukraine attack leaves thousands without power as missiles and drones strike Lviv, Zaporizhzhia, and other regions amid growing fears over winter energy shortages
A large-scale Russian missile and drone attack overnight has killed five people and left tens of thousands without power across Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday. The latest assault, one of the heaviest in months, targeted key energy infrastructure and residential areas as winter approaches.
Families Killed in Lviv Region
Four members of a single family — including a 15-year-old girl — were killed when a Russian missile hit their home in the village of Lapaivka, near Lviv. Another person was killed in Zaporizhzhia, where strikes also left widespread power outages.
Zelensky said Russia launched more than 50 missiles and around 500 attack drones overnight, while Ukraine’s Air Force estimated the total number of aerial weapons at 549.
“This is another reminder that Ukraine needs more protection and faster implementation of defense agreements, especially air defense,” Zelensky said. “A unilateral ceasefire in the skies could open the way to real diplomacy.”
“Massive Strike” on Infrastructure
Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed what it called a “massive strike” on Ukrainian military and infrastructure targets, claiming the attacks were successful. However, Ukrainian officials said the majority of drones and missiles were intercepted before reaching their targets.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that 478 drones and missiles were shot down, though eight missiles and 57 drones struck 20 locations across the country.
Lviv Endures Worst Attack Since 2022
In the western city of Lviv, air raid sirens lasted for hours as public transport and power supplies were suspended. Regional head Maksym Kozytskyi called it the largest attack on Lviv since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, with at least 163 drones and missiles identified in the area.
He said the strikes targeted residential buildings, hospitals, and gas transport infrastructure, calling the attack “especially cynical” because it came just as Ukrainians begin heating their homes for winter.
Power Outages Across Ukraine
Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said attacks damaged facilities in Chernihiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia, forcing emergency power cuts in several regions. In Zaporizhzhia, a strike left more than 73,000 people without electricity after a power plant was hit, according to regional head Ivan Fedorov.
A woman was killed and several others injured in the same region, including a 16-year-old girl, as photos showed a destroyed apartment block and burnt-out vehicles.
International Reaction and Escalation Fears
Ukraine’s western neighbor Poland scrambled fighter jets overnight to secure its airspace amid the barrage, while NATO aircraft were also deployed to monitor the situation.
The Russian assaults came just days after a US official signaled that Washington would support Ukraine in carrying out long-range strikes inside Russian territory.
Asked about US President Donald Trump’s stance, Special Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg said, “The answer is yes — use the ability to hit deep; there are no such things as sanctuaries.”
Ukraine has recently intensified attacks on Russian oil refineries, contributing to fuel shortages in parts of Russia. Meanwhile, Russian air defense units said they shot down 32 Ukrainian drones overnight, according to state media.
As the Russia-Ukraine war grinds into another bitter winter, the latest wave of missile and drone attacks underscores the escalating human and energy toll — and the urgent calls for stronger air defense support from Ukraine’s allies.