Russian drone and missile strike caused blackouts across Ukraine, 24 injured, one child killed

Russia launched a large-scale overnight drone and missile attack on Ukraine on October 10, killing a child, injuring at least 24 people, and causing widespread power and water outages. The strikes marked a major escalation in Moscow’s campaign against Ukraine’s energy grid ahead of winter.

According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia deployed 465 Shahed-type attack and decoy drones, as well as 32 cruise and ballistic missiles, including Iskander, Kh-59/69, and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. Ukrainian defenses intercepted 405 drones and 15 missiles. Still, multiple cities sustained heavy damage.

In Kyiv, at least 12 people were injured, with eight hospitalized. Strikes on critical infrastructure left the east bank of the city without electricity and disrupted water supplies and public transport. “From the explosions that just occurred — a ballistic missile attack is ongoing. Missiles, one after another, air defense is active,” said Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration. Residential buildings were damaged in the Holosiivskyi and Pecherskyi districts, while debris from a downed missile fell near a medical clinic in Desnianskyi district.

In Zaporizhzhia, a 7-year-old boy was killed and seven others were injured, including a first responder. Governor Ivan Fedorov said doctors “fought for the child’s life until the very end, but the injuries proved too severe.” The city was first struck by Shahed drones, followed by ballistic missiles that caused further destruction to homes, utilities, and the heating system. In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, five civilians were wounded in strikes on Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, and Kamianske.

Energy infrastructure suffered major damage nationwide. DTEK reported that one of its thermal power plants was hit, injuring an employee; it was the company’s third strike in a week and more than the 200th since the start of the full-scale war. Emergency power shutdowns were introduced in Kyiv, Poltava, Sumy, Donetsk, Chernihiv, Odesa, and other oblasts. In Poltava, over 16,500 households and 800 businesses lost electricity.

Ukraine's foreign minister urges partners to respond decisively to Russian strikes on energy

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called on international partners to deliver a strong and united response to Russia’s mass missile and drone attacks against Ukraine’s critical civilian infrastructure on the night of October 9–10.

“Russian terrorists struck critical civilian infrastructure, particularly energy, across Ukraine with hundreds of drones and missiles. I urge all partners to respond strongly. Putin did this on October 10 – the anniversary of the first large-scale attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure in 2022,” Sybiha said.

The minister described the latest strikes as proof that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not altered his aggressive course in three years of full-scale war. “He has not changed his aggressive actions, terrorist methods, or ultimatums, and continues to reject any genuine diplomatic or peaceful efforts,” Sybiha stressed.

He emphasized that cutting people off from power and heat in the autumn cold constitutes an act of genocide under Article II(c) of the Genocide Convention: “creating unbearable living conditions with the aim of destroying a national group.”

“Pressure on Moscow is the only recipe that can work, but it needs to be strong and consolidated. Economic pressure of biting sanctions, military pressure of stronger support for Ukraine, and political pressure of full isolation. Putin must feel that the cost of continuing the war exceeds the cost of stopping it,” the minister concluded.

Russians advanced near three settlements in eastern Ukraine

Russian forces have made advances near three settlements in Ukraine’s east, according to DeepState, a Ukrainian group of military analysts.

“The enemy has advanced near Mykhailivka, Berezove and Poltavka,” the group reported. Poltavka is a village in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Mykhailivka is located in Donetsk Oblast, and Berezove lies in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

The USA Senate approved $925 billion defense bill, proposes $500 million for Ukraine

The USA Senate approved a $925 billion defense budget for fiscal year 2026 on October 9, including $500 million in security assistance to Ukraine under the Pentagon’s Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). The legislation extends funding through 2028, reflecting continued congressional support for Kyiv. The Senate version allocates $100 million more than the House’s $890 billion bill, which had set aside $400 million for Ukraine, and now moves to a reconciliation process between the two chambers.

The bill also strengthens U.S. cooperation with allies, allowing Baltic states to share USA -purchased HIMARS launchers, advancing the Baltic Security Initiative, and incorporating the Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act to support Kyiv’s efforts to track and rehabilitate children taken by Russia. According to Ukraine’s Children of War database, nearly 20,000 children have been confirmed deported or displaced since 2022. While Ukraine continues to receive weapons through USAI, President Donald Trump has yet to approve new packages under the presidential drawdown authority, instead launching the NATO-led Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative for arms procurement.