Russian Missile Barrage Strikes Kyiv, Disrupts Power and Water

Kyiv came under heavy missile fire overnight from Monday into Tuesday, marking one of the largest strikes on the Ukrainian capital’s energy infrastructure in recent months. The attack, described by Ukraine’s minister of energy as “massive,” triggered power and water outages across several districts and set at least one residential building ablaze, according to city officials.

The barrage began late on 24 November 2025 and continued into the early hours of 25 November. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported on the messaging platform Telegram that debris from intercepted missiles ignited a fire in a multi-story apartment block. Emergency services were dispatched, and there were no immediate casualty figures from that incident. Air-raid sirens sounded repeatedly, and municipal authorities urged residents to remain in shelters until the all-clear was issued.

Ukraine’s air force engaged incoming projectiles throughout the night. Although the exact number of missiles fired at Kyiv was not released, the energy minister said the wave targeted substations and other critical facilities supplying electricity and water to the capital’s roughly three million people. By sunrise, portions of the city were experiencing rolling blackouts and reduced water pressure while repair crews assessed damage.

The strikes came less than 48 hours after U.S.-mediated discussions on a potential peace framework took place in Switzerland. Representatives from Kyiv and Moscow did not meet directly, but delegates reviewed a 19-point proposal aimed at de-escalating the 21-month-old conflict. Speaking on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told citizens that his administration was working to achieve peace “as quickly as possible,” yet cautioned that “Russia will not ease its pressure on Ukraine.” He also instructed the armed forces to treat every air-raid alert as a credible threat and to respond accordingly.

The missile assault on Kyiv followed a separate nationwide drone offensive the previous day. According to Ukraine’s air force, Russian forces launched more than 160 unmanned aerial vehicles across the country on 24 November. Air-defense units claimed to have shot down or jammed 125 of them, but 37 drones reached targets in 15 locations, including the northeastern city of Kharkiv, where the local mayor confirmed at least four fatalities.

Military analysts say the combined drone-and-missile tactics are designed to exhaust Ukrainian air defenses and disrupt essential services as winter sets in. Strikes on power plants, substations and water facilities routinely leave large urban areas without electricity or heating. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has repeatedly warned that sustained attacks on critical infrastructure increase civilian hardship and complicate relief operations.

Russian authorities did not immediately comment on the latest action against Kyiv. Throughout the conflict, Moscow has asserted that it targets only military or dual-use facilities, a claim Kyiv and its allies dispute. Ukraine maintains that the deliberate destruction of energy assets constitutes an attempt to break civilian morale and represents a violation of international humanitarian law.

Imagem: Internet

As of late Tuesday morning, Kyiv’s municipal energy provider reported incremental progress in restoring electricity but cautioned that emergency shutdowns could persist until grid stability is secured. Water-utility officials issued similar guidance, advising residents to conserve supplies while pressure levels were gradually returned to normal.

Officials also reminded the public to keep mobile devices charged, stock emergency kits and monitor official channels for updates on shelter locations and public transportation changes. Schools in affected districts shifted to remote learning for the day, and several municipal offices operated with reduced staff.

National authorities indicated that a full assessment of the overnight strike, including the number of missiles launched, interception rates and structural damage, would be released once data from regional commands were consolidated. Repair crews remain on site at multiple energy facilities, and air-defense units continue to track potential follow-up attacks.

This story will be updated as new information becomes available.

Crédito da imagem: Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images; Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters