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KYIV: The Ukrainian capital was plunged into darkness early Friday by what the air force called a “massive attack,” as Russia pummeled Kyiv’s infrastructure, cutting off water and energy supplies.
The Kremlin has escalated aerial attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities and rail systems over recent weeks, mirroring similar campaigns launched over the previous three winters that left people without heating in frigid temperatures.
AFP journalists in Kyiv heard several powerful explosions on Friday and experienced blackouts at their homes across different districts of the city.
“The capital of the country is under an enemy ballistic missile attack and a massive attack by the enemy strike drones,” the Ukrainian air force said, urging people in Kyiv to remain in shelters.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Russian forces had targeted “critical infrastructure” and wounded at least nine people, five of whom were taken to hospital.
“The left bank of the capital is without electricity. There are also problems with water supply,” Klitschko posted on Telegram.
Ukrainian Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk said Russian forces were “inflicting a massive strike” on the grid.
“Energy workers are taking all necessary measures to minimize the negative consequences,” Grynchuk wrote on Facebook.
“As soon as security conditions allow, energy workers will begin clarifying the consequences of the attack and restoration work,” she said.
Fearing an incoming hypersonic Kinzhal missile — which are harder to detect and intercept — Ukraine put the entire country on alert on Friday.
Russia also hit the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia with at least seven overnight drone strikes, killing a seven-year-old and wounding at least three people, according to Ivan Fedorov, the head of the regional military administration.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that Moscow was seeking to “create chaos and apply psychological pressure” through crippling energy facilities and railways.
According to Zelensky, Russian attacks this year have already strained Ukrainian gas infrastructure, and more strikes could force his country to ramp up imports.
Ukraine has also stepped up its drone and missile strikes on Russian territory, a tactic that Zelensky said was showing “results” and pushing up fuel prices in Russia.
A Ukrainian hit on a power station in the Russian border region of Belgorod also caused power outages.
Russia accused Ukraine on Thursday of rupturing a now-defunct pipeline near the frontline used to transport ammonia into Ukraine for export, releasing toxic gas.
It posted a video showing what appeared to be clouds of a chemical compound spewing from a source in the ground.
Authorities in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region said the incident did not present a “menace to the lives of people” living nearby.

Citing a recent uptick in Russian drone attacks, Ukrainian authorities ordered the evacuation of children and their guardians from Kramatorsk, the largest civilian hub in the Donetsk region still under Kyiv’s control.
In Sloviansk, another Donbas city under Ukrainian control, the mayor recently advised children and elderly people to leave, citing incessant attacks on the energy system.
Ukrainian authorities said Russia is increasingly deploying small, cheap first-person-view drones that have dramatically changed the character of fighting across the sprawling front line over recent months.
A Ukrainian delegation led by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko is expected to visit the United States early next week to discuss, among other topics, energy and air defense under intensifying Russian strikes.
US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Washington and NATO allies were “stepping up the pressure” to end the war in Ukraine, though his attempts to negotiate with Russia’s Vladimir Putin have so far failed to achieve a ceasefire.
Trump hosted Putin in Alaska in August, after which Russia’s attacks on Ukraine escalated.
Russia said this week that momentum toward a peace deal had largely vanished.
 

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration on Thursday proposed banning Chinese airlines from flying over Russia on flights to and from the United States, saying the practice puts American carriers at a disadvantage.
US airlines have long criticized the decision to allow Chinese carriers to fly over Russia on some flights because it which gives them the advantage of decreased flying time and burning less fuel.
The US Transportation Department said on Thursday in its proposed order “this imbalance has become a significant competitive factor.” USDOT said it was proposing to bar Chinese overflights “to level this competitive disparity among US and Chinese air carriers.”
The Chinese embassy in Washington did not have an immediate comment.
Russia has barred US airlines and other foreign carriers from flying over its airspace in retaliation for Washington banning Russian flights over the US in March 2022 after the country invaded Ukraine.
The decision could impact some US flights operated by Air China, China Eastern, Xiamen Airlines and China Southern.
The push comes amid growing tension between China and the United States over a series of economic issues.
USDOT is giving Chinese carriers two days to respond to the order and said a final order could be in effect as soon as November. In May 2023, the United States approved additional flights by Chinese carriers after they agreed not to fly over Russia on new flights, Reuters reported.
Last year, USDOT said Chinese passenger airlines could boost weekly round-trip US flights to 50. More than 150 weekly round-trip passenger flights were allowed by each side before restrictions were imposed in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some US carriers have told the Trump administration that direct East Coast flights to China are not economically feasible because of the added expense of not flying over Russia.