Zelensky: In addition to Kyiv, 12 regions of Ukraine come under attack overnight

Russia launched a large overnight attack across Ukraine. Kyiv was hit, along with twelve other regions. The attack damaged energy infrastructure and caused injuries. Nine people were hurt, including one child. Rescue and repair teams began working wherever security conditions allowed.

The attack used 172 drones and 36 ballistic missiles. Zelensky said every missile was aimed at Kyiv and the surrounding region. Residential buildings, the Northern Bridge, and a kindergarten were damaged. Energy facilities were also hit in several regions, including Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk.

Kyiv faced serious problems with electricity, water, and heating. Substations linking the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plants with Kyiv and central Ukraine were damaged. The immediate priority was restoring essential services, while Zelensky called for stronger United States support and more sanctions pressure on Russia.

Ballistic missiles are powerful weapons that are launched at very high speed and follow a largely arcing trajectory. After launch, much of their path is governed by momentum and gravity. They can cover long distances quickly and are difficult to stop because of their speed and flight path.

Drones are unmanned aircraft. They can be controlled remotely or follow programmed routes, often while flying through the atmosphere like an aircraft. In this attack, Russia used both types of weapon: 36 ballistic missiles and 172 drones. Zelensky said all the missiles were directed at Kyiv and the surrounding region.

The difference matters because defenses must respond to different threats. Missiles may arrive faster and from a steep trajectory. Drones can approach more slowly and may be detected differently. The article does not describe the interception of either weapon, but it records damage to energy facilities and buildings.

The attack was large in both weapon count and geographic reach. Russian forces used 172 drones and 36 ballistic missiles, for 208 reported weapons altogether. Kyiv was attacked, as were twelve other Ukrainian regions. This spread damage and response demands across much of the country.

Nine people were injured, including one child. Kyiv suffered damage to residential buildings, the Northern Bridge, and a kindergarten. Energy facilities were hit in Kyiv and in Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk. Substations connected to major nuclear power plants were also damaged in the Kyiv region.

The scale meant that emergency crews had to work in several places at once. Rescue and repair operations continued wherever security conditions permitted. Kyiv faced difficulties with power, water, and heating, while Ukraine also sought stronger international support as Russia continued increasing its attacks.

A city depends on electricity for homes, hospitals, communications, water systems, and heating equipment. When energy infrastructure is damaged, these services can fail together. Residents may lose lighting and appliances, while water pumping and heat distribution become harder to maintain. Critical services must then rely on limited backup systems.

Kyiv’s situation illustrates this chain of effects. Zelensky reported serious difficulties with electricity, water, and heat supplies. Residential buildings and a kindergarten were damaged, while substations and other energy facilities were hit. The damage therefore affected both public infrastructure and ordinary living spaces.

The immediate response involves rescue work, repairs, and efforts to stabilize essential services. The article says teams were working wherever security allowed. Longer outages can make winter conditions especially dangerous, increase pressure on hospitals and utilities, and deepen the need for outside support and protection of energy infrastructure.

A power substation is a facility that helps control electricity as it moves through the grid. It can change voltage, direct power onto different lines, and protect equipment during faults. Substations do not usually generate electricity. They help connect generators, transmission networks, and the local systems that serve communities.

The damaged substations in the Kyiv region connected the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plants to Kyiv and central Ukraine. That role made them important transmission points. Damage at such points can restrict how much electricity reaches a region, even when a generating plant itself continues producing power.

The article also reports substation damage in Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Repair teams were working where security allowed. Until connections are restored or power is rerouted, Kyiv and other areas may face shortages or interruptions in essential services.

When substations or transmission lines fail, a power system can use several backup approaches. Operators may reroute electricity through undamaged lines, bring local generators online, reduce nonessential demand, or prioritize hospitals and water systems. Battery storage and imports can also help where available. These options depend on equipment, fuel, and safe access.

For example, a city could use mobile generators for hospitals, water pumps, or heating facilities while crews repair a damaged substation. Grid operators might shift electricity from another route if that route has spare capacity. Smaller local sources can support critical areas, but they usually cannot immediately replace a large transmission connection.

The article states that repair and rescue operations were underway wherever security allowed. It does not list specific backup methods used after this attack. The immediate challenge was keeping Kyiv and other affected regions supplied while damaged substations and energy infrastructure were restored.

Electricity usually travels through several linked stages. Generating plants produce it, transformers raise its voltage, and high-voltage transmission lines carry it over long distances. Substations then lower voltage and direct power toward cities. Local distribution lines deliver it to homes, hospitals, businesses, water systems, and other services.

The Ukrainian attack shows why each link matters. Substations connecting the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plants to Kyiv and central regions were damaged. Other substations were hit in Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk. Damage at these transfer points can block or reduce electricity flows to cities.

Operators can sometimes reroute power, but capacity and safety limit those choices. Crews must inspect and repair damaged equipment before normal service returns. In this case, Kyiv faced serious electricity, water, and heating difficulties, while repair work continued wherever security conditions permitted.