Overnight Russian missile and drone strikes wounded at least nine people, including a child, and damaged energy infrastructure across 12 Ukrainian regions on Saturday, November 7, ahead of peace talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces launched 36 ballistic missiles and 172 drones, with the Ukrainian Air Force reporting that air defences intercepted four missiles and 149 drones while later regional tallies reported at least two deaths.
The heaviest strikes targeted Kyiv and its surrounding region, where substations connecting the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plants to the capital and central Ukraine were hit as temperatures fell towards freezing. Residential buildings, the North Bridge, and a kindergarten have been damaged, Zelensky wrote on Telegram. Traffic was closed in both directions across Kyiv's Northern Bridge over the Dnipro River after multiple missile hits.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko later said water supplies had been restored and about 60 per cent of the city's apartment blocks were connected to heating. Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal reported power outages in five regions after substations were also damaged in the Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions. The situation in the capital is difficult, with disruptions to electricity, water, and heating supplies.
Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces carried out a large-scale strike against military-industrial facilities alongside energy and transport infrastructure in and around Kyiv. The bombardment comes days before Ukrainian and Russian delegations are due to meet for US-backed trilateral talks, a track welcomed by President John Dramani Mahama during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week.
The trilateral talks are set to take place with the United States' backing, and President Zelensky urged the United States Congress to maintain bipartisan backing and tighten sanctions on Moscow. Zelensky said Russia is preparing for trilateral talks by launching ballistic missiles at Ukraine's critical infrastructure.
Moscow has pledged to curb the illegal enlistment of Ghanaians in the war, according to President John Dramani Mahama. The Ghanain President had discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on this issue last week.
The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has resulted in significant damage to Ukraine's power network, leaving thousands without electricity, water, or heating. The international community is closely monitoring the situation as Ukraine and Russia prepare for trilateral talks.
Key points
- Ukraine's power network has been significantly damaged due to Russian missile and drone strikes.
- The strikes have wounded at least nine people, including a child, and damaged energy infrastructure across 12 Ukrainian regions.
- Ukrainian and Russian delegations are set to meet for US-backed trilateral talks days after the missile strikes.
