LONDON, UK – OCTOBER 14: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reacts during a meeting with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham at 10 Downing Street on October 14, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Henry Nicholls-WPA Pool/Getty Images)
WPA Pool | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Russia and Ukraine exchanged attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure overnight, with the Ukrainian city of Dnipropetrovsk experiencing a near-total power outage and a refinery in western Russia set ablaze by drone strikes.
Ukraine’s private energy company DTEK said an emergency power outage was implemented early Friday in Dnipro and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast due to damage from the Russian attack.
More than 350,000 people were without power and work was continuing to restore supplies, the region’s military chief, Oleksandr Hanza, said in a Telegram post.
Shakhtarske, Ukraine – October 27: People walk near a damaged car after a Russian drone attack in Shakhtarske, Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, on October 27, 2026. A Russian attack on Shakhtarske on the night of October 26 damaged at least four apartment buildings and about a dozen cars. Residents said one of the drones attacked an apartment on the second floor of a high-rise building. (Photo by: Yurii Tynnyi/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC “UA:PBC”/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Global Images Ukraine | Global Images Ukraine | Getty Images
An oil refinery producing jet fuel for the Russian military in Novokuybyshevsk, Samara Region, Russia, was set on fire after being attacked by a Ukrainian drone.
Late Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukrainian forces had destroyed two Russian Su-34 fighter jets and struck an Iskander missile launcher.
He also warned that Russia was preparing another high-velocity missile attack and urged Ukraine’s allies to urgently supply air defense interceptor missiles, especially for the Patriot system.
“We currently have information that Russia is preparing a new ballistic missile attack,” Zelenskiy said in an evening speech from Kiev. He referred to anti-ballistic defense capabilities provided by allies, adding: “We need the ability to shoot down this Russian evil and we are waiting for a decision.”
Ukraine faces a severe shortage of interceptor missiles to shoot down incoming Russian ballistic missiles.
At least 14 people were killed in an attack on a Ukrainian railway platform in Dnipropetrovsk early Thursday, and at least six more were killed in additional attacks throughout the day, officials said.
The attack comes as a local ceasefire in Kherson, southern Ukraine, which lasted six days, is expected to last for three days, raising cautious optimism that a broader ceasefire may be possible.
Attempts at a peace deal have so far failed, but a new round of US-mediated peace talks is scheduled for next month in Abu Dhabi. Both sides emphasize the need for security.
Tensions between Mr. Zelensky and President Donald Trump have increased in recent weeks due to a series of moves by the Trump administration that appear to favor Russia, including the easing of economic sanctions.
Reuters reported on Friday that the Pentagon had instructed NATO allies to tone down public criticism of Russia, citing four people familiar with the matter.
President Trump also accused Ukraine of attacking Russian energy facilities and raising fuel prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3.
The “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine announced by President Trump on October 11 has not yielded any meaningful results.
