KYIV, Dec 3 – Russia launched a series of drone attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure late Monday, targeting the western regions of Ternopil and Rivne. Ukrainian Air Force officials reported that most of the incoming drones were intercepted, but the strikes still left significant damage, including widespread power outages.
The mayor of Ternopil, Serhiy Nadal, confirmed that part of the city was left without electricity after the attacks, following a similar disruption the previous week. Nadal urged residents to conserve water and charge their phones as emergency services and energy workers worked to repair the damage. The city, located about 220 kilometers east of NATO member Poland, has been a repeated target in Russia’s ongoing aerial campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure.
“Energy workers and rescuers are eliminating the aftermath of the attack. Please collect water and charge your phones,” Nadal said in a message on Telegram.
In addition to Ternopil, the Russian drone strikes also targeted the energy infrastructure in the Rivne region, causing further disruptions. Oleksandr Koval, the governor of Rivne, confirmed the attack but reported no casualties. Ukrainian air defense forces claimed to have downed 22 out of the 28 drones fired by Russia during the nighttime assault.
Despite the interceptions, debris from the drones caused damage in the Kyiv region. Governor Ruslan Kravchenko reported that falling remnants damaged four residential houses, two cars, and a garage.
This attack follows a series of large-scale Russian assaults on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in November, which had already caused power outages across the country ahead of the winter season. Ukrainian authorities have been working to rebuild and bolster their energy grid against such persistent aerial threats.
The latest strikes underscore Russia’s ongoing strategy of targeting Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, particularly as the country braces for a harsh winter under continued conflict.
