Russian missile barrage knocks out power for 200,000 in central Ukraine and sets major plants on fire
Russia fired more than 80 missiles and drones overnight at Ukraine’s power system, hitting at least four thermal power plants, triggering fires, and forcing emergency blackouts across several regions.
Russia has escalated strikes on Ukraine’s energy system, firing more than 80 missiles and drones overnight into 3 November at thermal power plants and other energy facilities across the country.
By morning, more than 200,000 residents in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast were reported without electricity after concentrated strikes on the Prydniprovska and Kryvyi Rih thermal power plants in Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih. Emergency blackouts were imposed across Kyiv city, Kyiv Oblast and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, on top of ongoing rolling outages.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast alone, at least 25 missiles of various types – Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles, Iskander-M ballistic missiles and Kn-23 ballistic missiles – struck the Prydniprovska and Kryvyi Rih plants. The vast majority, around 21 missiles, hit the Prydniprovska plant. Separate reporting on the same attack said approximately 11 Kh-101 cruise missiles, 6 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 4 Kn-23 ballistic missiles struck Prydniprovska, and that two of the Kh-101s carried cluster warheads. A large fire is burning at the plant and the damage is described as serious.
Missile tracking reports described repeated impacts on the Kryvyi Rih Thermal Power Plant. Multiple Kh-101 cruise missiles were reported striking the facility, with further hits noted over time.
Further west, the Ladyzhyn Thermal Power Plant in Vinnytsia Oblast came under sustained attack. Monitors reported that missiles initially heading toward Dnipro changed course toward Ladyzhyn. The first impacts were reported as “occurring now” in the early morning, followed by several updates noting “more impacts” and indicating that several missiles remained in the air and were still approaching. These reports described groups of missiles flying toward Ladyzhyn, with interceptions near Uman in Cherkasy Oblast as Ukrainian fighter jets operated east of the power plant in an effort to protect it.
Analysts listed four main thermal power plants as targets in the wider attack: Ladyzhyn, Prydniprovska, Kryvorizka (Kryvyi Rih) and Zmiivska. In addition, drones attacked substations in Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr and at least one more oblast, further stressing regional grids.
The barrage also hit urban areas. In Dnipro, repeated explosions were reported, with smoke rising over the city after Kh-101 impacts. A residential apartment building partially collapsed following a Kh-101 cruise missile attack; it was unclear whether this was from a direct impact or falling debris, and early reports warned that civilians might be trapped under the rubble. Local authorities said there were wounded in Dnipro after strikes that damaged homes.
Across Kyiv city, air raid alerts were declared due to the threat of drones. Emergency power outages were introduced in Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast because of the overnight combined missile and drone attack on energy infrastructure. These emergency outages are in addition to planned rolling blackouts already in place.
The scale of the salvo suggests a renewed phase in Russia’s campaign against Ukraine’s energy sector. Hitting large thermal power plants reduces generating capacity and can destabilize the grid far beyond the immediate strike sites, forcing operators to cut power elsewhere to prevent a wider collapse.
The next critical signals will be how quickly Ukrainian energy companies can restore power in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, how stable Kyiv’s grid remains after the latest emergency shutoffs, whether further large salvos follow in the coming days, and what assessment emerges of long-term damage at the Prydniprovska, Kryvorizka, Ladyzhyn and Zmiivska plants.
Sources
- OSINT