Russian ballistic missiles struck a key heat and power plant in Kyiv on Tuesday, killing at least six people, wounding more than 20 and cutting electricity to an estimated 600,000 households across the capital, according to Ukrainian authorities and multiple news outlets.
Missile strike on Kyiv’s energy hub
The plant, one of three that supply heat and electricity to the city, was hit in a second consecutive night of ballistic missile attacks on the capital. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strike occurred "without early warning from our partners" and described the lack of intel as "absolutely unjust".
"We received no early warning from our partners," Zelensky told reporters, adding that the silence amounted to a "disrespect" toward the United States.The death toll varies among sources: the BBC, Al Jazeera and several Ukrainian outlets reported six fatalities, while other reports mentioned three or two deaths. Injuries were reported at 21 or 22, according to the Kyiv Post and the Kyiv Independent.
Wider impact on Ukraine’s power grid
Ukraine’s energy ministry confirmed that the strike was part of a broader Russian campaign that targeted all three of Kyiv’s heat‑and‑power facilities, as well as residential blocks and other infrastructure. The coordinated assaults left around 600,000 residents without power, a figure echoed by France 24, CNBC and Le Monde. The attacks came hours after President Joe Biden’s administration announced an "energy cease‑fire" that had been publicised by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Ukrainian officials, including Zelensky, argue the missile strike violates that truce.
Political fallout and calls for accountability
Zelensky used the incident to urge Western allies, particularly the United States, to increase pressure on Moscow to respect the cease‑fire and to improve intelligence sharing. He accused the United States of "blatant disrespect" for not providing advance warning, a sentiment echoed by The Guardian and The Times. Russian defence officials have not commented on the specific strike, but have repeatedly claimed their operations target only legitimate military objectives.
In addition to the power outage, the missile attack damaged civilian infrastructure and triggered evacuations in several districts. Residents reported loss of heating during an early autumn chill, and the interruption of telecommunications, including Starlink services, was noted by Novinite and other outlets.
Ukrainian intelligence services said they received no prior indication of incoming missiles, a claim corroborated by Euronews and United24 Media. The lack of warning, Zelensky argued, undermines the coordination mechanisms that have been in place since the start of the war and raises concerns about the effectiveness of NATO’s early‑warning network.
International observers note that the strike marks a significant escalation in Russia’s targeting of energy infrastructure, a sector that has been under sustained pressure since the war began. Analysts warn that continued attacks could deepen the humanitarian crisis in Kyiv and complicate Ukraine’s winter preparedness. Ukrainian officials have called on allies to supply additional generators, repair crews and, where possible, to enforce sanctions that would deter further violations of the declared energy cease‑fire.
