Russia Strikes Kyiv Energy Sites And Northern Bridge; Power And Water Disrupted

KYIV – November 7, 2026

Russian forces struck energy infrastructure and the Northern Bridge in Kyiv overnight, leaving parts of the capital without electricity, heating and water, while Ukrainian officials reported damage to substations that connect nuclear plants to the city.

Ukraine’s Air Force stated that Russia launched 172 long-range attack drones and 36 ballistic missiles. Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the energy situation in the capital as extremely difficult after strikes on facilities in the Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions. Traffic on the Northern Bridge was halted in both directions while experts assessed the damage. Five people were reported injured in the capital.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that substations connecting the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plants to Kyiv and central Ukraine were hit. He said every power plant in Ukraine has suffered damage from Russian attacks in one form or another. Additional substations were reportedly damaged in Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Power outages were recorded across multiple areas.

Russia’s Defence Ministry stated its forces struck targets in Ukraine’s military-industrial sector and energy and transport infrastructure in and around Kyiv. It listed the Northern Bridge, which it said was used to transport weapons and equipment, and the Meridian plant, which it said produces Flamingo cruise missiles. The ministry also reported strikes on a power plant, an electricity substation and a munitions facility in the Kyiv region, plus a substation in Zhytomyr and a cargo vessel in the Black Sea that it said was carrying military equipment.

Ukrainian officials said repairs are complicated by repeated strikes on the same corridors. The heating season has already begun in Kyiv, increasing the impact of any prolonged outages on residential areas. Zelenskyy has called for additional transformers, cables and generators from international partners.

On the Russian side, authorities in Krasnodar earlier reported drone debris falling on an industrial facility in Afipsky and starting a fire. Independent monitoring groups identified the site as the Afipsky oil refinery, which processes roughly three per cent of Russia’s national crude capacity. The plant has been targeted multiple times since 2022.

The overnight exchange continues a pattern of mutual attacks on energy facilities that has intensified ahead of colder weather. Previous local energy truces expired without extension. Ukrainian officials maintain that Russian attacks on generation and distribution are designed to pressure civilians through the winter. Russian statements frame the strikes as targeting military-related power supplies.

Air-defence shortages remain a stated constraint for Ukraine. Officials have noted that ballistic missiles are intercepted at far lower rates than cruise missiles or drones. Western partners have supplied additional systems and interceptors in recent months, yet Ukrainian commanders say the volume of incoming munitions still exceeds available protection for all critical sites.

No new ceasefire proposals covering energy targets were announced Saturday. Diplomatic channels remain open on other files, including planned talks in Abu Dhabi next week, but the overnight exchange indicates that energy systems continue to be treated as legitimate military objectives by both parties. Residents in affected Ukrainian regions were advised to conserve power where service has been restored and to use public charging points where available.

The coming weeks will test the resilience of Ukraine’s repaired grid as temperatures drop. Russian officials have not indicated any reduction in strike tempo. Ukrainian energy crews continue round-the-clock work on damaged substations while air-defence units reposition to cover remaining generation sites.