Russian strikes leave hundreds of thousands without power in eastern Ukraine

A second consecutive night of Russian missile and drone attacks targeting Ukraine's grid has left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity in eastern regions.

Local authorities and utility operator DTEK reported that over 600,000 residents lost power in Dnipropetrovsk, with another 250,000 affected in the Kharkiv region due to severe infrastructure damage. The electrical disruptions also compelled the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to switch to emergency diesel generators to maintain vital reactor cooling systems.

Russia's Ministry of Defence confirmed its forces struck Ukrainian energy facilities and a commercial container ship. Ukrainian officials expressed growing concern that continued targeted bombardments will compromise heating and water supplies ahead of winter.

Sources: France24, La Tribune, Libération, ORF, Tagesschau