Russian attacks disrupt Ukraine’s power grid and injure 73 in Kharkiv

Russia launched a large missile and drone attack on Ukraine overnight, targeting energy infrastructure and prompting emergency power cuts, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

He said power generation facilities and substations in nine regions were the main targets. In Zhytomyr region, more than 180,000 customers lost electricity, Ukrainian news outlet Babel reported, citing regional authorities.

In Kharkiv, 73 people were hurt when an air strike hit a passage between hospital buildings at about 03:20 on Tuesday, Ukrainian prosecutors said. They said patients, medical staff and nearby residents were among those affected, and that the weapon may have been an aerial bomb.

One person was killed and 17 injured in a further attack on Dnipro at dawn, Babel reported, citing regional officials.

Zelensky said Russia had launched 289 drones, 17 ballistic missiles and 59 cruise missiles overnight. Ukraine’s air force reported the same drone and cruise missile figures, with its drone count including decoys. It said 309 targets had been shot down or electronically suppressed by 09:00 on Tuesday.

In a separate attack on Monday, 29 people were killed in Komyshuvakha in the Zaporizhzhia region, Zelensky said. He said the attack hit a school building used to distribute humanitarian aid.

Zelensky had warned of a major attack on Monday evening, saying he believed Russia was counting on the US midterm elections to distract attention from Ukraine. On Tuesday, he said Russia believed America would not notice its attack. The strikes coincided with the US congressional elections, but that timing does not establish Russia’s reason for choosing it.