Russia Pounds Ukraine’s Power Grid as US Mulls Missile Aid

Russia Pounds Ukraine’s Power Grid as US Mulls Missile Aid

Russia has launched a fresh wave of overnight attacks on Ukraine’s power grid, wounding energy workers and damaging vital infrastructure in several regions, as Moscow intensifies its campaign to cripple the country’s energy sector ahead of winter.

Ukrainian officials said power facilities in Kyiv, Donetsk, Odesa, and Chernihiv were targeted in coordinated air assaults. “Russia continues its aerial terror against our cities and energy systems,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X, adding that more than 3,100 drones and 92 missiles were launched last week alone.

Zelenskyy urged Western nations to impose tougher secondary sanctions on buyers of Russian oil, arguing that cutting Moscow’s energy revenues remains key to weakening its war machine.

He also revealed that he had a “productive” phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss air defence cooperation, energy security, and long-range strike capabilities. When asked about Ukraine’s possible acquisition of U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles, Zelenskyy said, “We are working on it, but we will see.”

Trump has said he has “sort of made a decision” regarding the potential delivery of Tomahawk missiles, a move that could dramatically shift the balance of firepower in the conflict. A senior Ukrainian delegation is expected to travel to Washington this week for further discussions on defence cooperation.

The Kremlin responded sharply to the reports. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the possible transfer of Tomahawks was of “extreme concern” to Moscow, warning that such a decision would escalate tensions. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, however, downplayed the prospect, describing Trump’s comments as “tactical” rather than a firm commitment.

Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has remained a primary target throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion, now in its third year. The latest assault came just days after a massive missile barrage on Friday injured at least 20 people in Kyiv and triggered widespread blackouts. Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko called that attack one of the largest strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid since the war began.

Ukraine’s air force said it intercepted or jammed 103 of 118 Russian drones overnight, while Moscow claimed to have downed 32 Ukrainian drones over its own territory. Both sides have intensified drone and missile operations as the conflict grinds on with no sign of a ceasefire.

The sustained attacks underscore Moscow’s strategy of targeting Ukraine’s energy systems to weaken morale and disrupt civilian life during the harsh winter months. Kyiv, meanwhile, continues to press its Western allies for advanced air defence systems and long-range weapons to strengthen its resilience.