Russian forces carried out one of the largest attacks on Ukraine’s energy system on October 16–17, targeting more than 15 major electricity generation and transmission facilities. Seven cities faced particularly severe disruptions, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Moscow was attempting to trigger a widespread blackout ahead of winter.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported this.
According to the president, the most severe electricity supply problems were recorded in Lutsk, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Shepetivka, Slavuta and Netishyn.
Russian strikes also targeted energy facilities in Kharkiv, Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk and other regions.
Zelenskyy said Russia was expanding the scale of its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, seeking to deplete available reserves and complicate repair efforts by striking multiple regions simultaneously.
According to the president, Russian forces launched more than 320 jet-powered and conventional Shahed attack drones between 7 p.m. on October 16 and 7 a.m. on October 17, along with loitering munitions, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.
Although Ukrainian air defenses intercept a significant proportion of incoming threats, the scale and continuous nature of the attacks are causing serious damage to the country’s energy system.
Repair work is currently underway at the damaged facilities, with all necessary emergency services and available resources from Ukrainian energy companies involved in restoration efforts.
Zelenskyy warns Russia is trying to leave millions of Ukrainians without electricity
The president stressed that Russian forces were deliberately targeting energy infrastructure ahead of the winter heating season.
“Russia is trying to cause a blackout in Ukraine just before winter. Russia is trying to leave millions of our people without electricity and heating,” Zelenskyy said.
According to him, Ukrainian energy workers are operating almost around the clock to restore electricity supplies.
The president also said European partners had already prepared new support packages for Ukraine and thanked them for their assistance.
Zelenskyy criticizes US decision on sanctions against Russia
The president also addressed the US administration’s decision to suspend new sanctions against Russia under legislation introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Washington had made the decision just as Russian forces carried out one of their most powerful attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
“At a time when the Russians have launched such a massive strike on our energy infrastructure, a decision was unfortunately made in America to completely disregard the Lindsey Graham law, which was supposed to impose truly effective pressure on Russia to end this war,” the president said.
According to Zelenskyy, the legislation could have significantly increased economic pressure on Moscow and remains a potential tool for helping stop Russian aggression.
He argued that easing US sanctions and giving Russia new opportunities to generate revenue would only encourage the Kremlin to continue the war.
“An American sanctions blackout, easing pressure on the aggressor, financial rewards for Putin — all of this only encourages him to keep striking,” Zelenskyy stressed.
He urged international partners to maintain pressure on Russia and focus on genuinely ending the war rather than pursuing decisions that would allow Moscow to continue military operations.
