Power restored to 270,000 in Kyiv after Russian drone strikes

Firefighters battle flames at a thermal power plant following Russian drone attacks on Kyiv's energy infrastructure (Illustrative image) (Photo by Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images) Getty Images

Power was restored to 270,000 consumers in Kyiv after Russian drone attacks knocked out electricity across the Ukrainian capital. Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk announced the restoration on Friday following overnight strikes that left many residents without power. Images showed firefighters tackling burning apartment blocks throughout the city.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Russian strikes targeted civilian and energy infrastructure as Ukraine prepares for winter temperatures. The attacks represent Russia's continued strategy of targeting power systems ahead of the coldest months.

Civilian Casualties

Russian drones and missiles killed a seven-year-old boy and injured four people in Zaporizhzhia, damaging 12 apartment buildings in the south-eastern city. The regional governor confirmed the casualties from the coordinated strikes across Ukraine.

In Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported 12 people injured, with eight requiring hospital treatment. The widespread attacks demonstrated Russia's escalating targeting of civilian areas alongside energy infrastructure.

International Asset Response

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde discussed "fair use" of frozen Russian assets with Zelensky on Friday for Ukraine's defence and rebuilding. Zelensky called for greater political will in Europe, saying: "We are getting closer to a decision on the assets, and I thank everyone who is helping."

Only the BBC reports that the UK, France, and Germany have jointly committed to using the full value of frozen Russian assets, moving beyond previous proposals to use only profits and interest. This represents a significant escalation in Western sanctions policy against Moscow.

Diplomatic Developments

US First Lady Melania Trump announced that eight Ukrainian children had been reunited with their families after direct contact with Vladimir Putin. Trump had written to Putin in August, with the letter hand-delivered during her husband's meeting with the Russian president in Alaska.

Putin maintained his commitment to discussions with Washington despite his deputy foreign minister's pessimistic assessment that US-Russia relations were "collapsing". Putin said on Friday: "These are complex issues that require further consideration. But we remain committed to the discussion that took place in Anchorage."

Sources used: "The Guardian", "BBC", "Express" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.