Ukraine power cuts hit 600,000 as Russia strikes the grid

Ukraine power supplies failed for at least 600,000 people after a night of Russian missile and drone attacks, despite a declared energy truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strikes hit vital energy sites in Kyiv, the region around it and the north-eastern city of Kharkiv. He also warned that more Ukraine power cuts could follow.

Officials said three people died in Kyiv. Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry claimed that its strikes hit energy and communications sites serving the Ukrainian army.

Ukraine power grid hit despite truce

According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia launched 39 ballistic and cruise missiles along with 128 drones. Defences brought down four missiles and 115 drones, it said.

The barrage came days after US President Donald Trump declared an “energy ceasefire” on Sunday. At the time, he said both sides had accepted it and warned them not to break it.

Zelensky, however, said Russia struck “the very infrastructure covered by the ceasefire” that Trump had announced. He added that oil and gas sites also suffered significant damage. Zelensky had backed the truce, even though no one told him about it beforehand, while the Kremlin has not commented on it directly.

It was the second straight night of missile strikes on the capital. In both attacks, ballistic missiles landed before air raid sirens had time to sound.

Kyiv says partners gave no warning

Just hours before the latest raid, Zelensky said Kyiv had received “no early warning from our partners” before a Tuesday strike hit a major power plant in the capital.

“This is absolutely unjust,” he said. In his words, Russia was wrecking Ukraine’s energy system while Kyiv got no alerts about ballistic launches.

Ukraine depends on US satellite data to track incoming Russian missiles and sound the alarm. Over the weekend, however, Washington warned Kyiv and European allies that it could cut intelligence sharing if Ukraine kept striking Russian energy sites.

Kyiv relies on US and allied intelligence to locate Russian launchers and track incoming strikes. Yet a ballistic missile can hit the capital in just minutes, so there is hardly any time to respond.

Trump rejected that claim on Tuesday. “We are helping them, and we are sharing intel,” he told reporters.

Starlink curbs add to pressure

In a separate blow, presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov said SpaceX had slowed Starlink terminals overnight. According to him, troops got no notice, and several missions failed as a result.

A source in Ukraine’s defence ministry said the restrictions had made logistics and drone operations much harder. SpaceX has not commented.

On the other side, Russia’s defence ministry said it shot down 902 Ukrainian drones overnight over several regions, including Moscow and Crimea.

Zelensky was due to meet UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham at Downing Street on Wednesday. The two leaders planned to discuss speeding up air defence supplies.

For months, Ukraine has pleaded for more interceptors able to stop fast ballistic missiles. Until those arrive, the Ukraine power crisis looks set to worsen as winter nears, leaving millions at risk of cold and dark homes.