Russian strikes plunged the Ukrainian city of Dnipro into a near-total blackout on Friday, leaving more than 350,000 people without power, as President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia was preparing fresh ballistic missile attacks and urged allies to supply more air defense interceptors.
Emergency power cuts came into force in Dnipro and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast early Friday after damage from Russian attacks, according to Ukrainian private energy company DTEK. Oleksandr Hanzha, the head of the region's military administration, said in a Telegram post that more than 350,000 people were without power and that work was ongoing to restore supply.
A Ukrainian drone attack set fire to an oil refinery in the Russian city of Novokuibyshevsk in Samara Oblast, a facility that produced jet fuel for the Russian armed forces.
The strikes came as a six-day local ceasefire in Kherson in southern Ukraine appeared to hold for a third day, raising cautious optimism that a broader truce may be possible. A new round of U.S.-brokered peace negotiations is expected next month in Abu Dhabi, and both sides have emphasized the need for security guarantees.
Late Thursday, Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had destroyed two Russian Su-34 fighter jets and struck an Iskander missile launcher. He warned that Russia was preparing further high-speed missile attacks. "We now have intel about the Russians preparing new ballistic missile attacks," he said in an evening address from Kyiv. "We need the capabilities to shoot down this Russian evil and are awaiting the decisions," he added, referring to anti-ballistic defense capabilities provided by allies. Ukraine faces an acute shortage of interceptors to shoot down incoming Russian ballistic missiles.
Early Thursday, at least 14 people were killed in an attack on a Ukrainian rail platform in Dnipro, and at least six more died in additional strikes throughout the day, according to officials. Tensions have run high between Zelensky and President Donald Trump in recent weeks, amid moves by the Trump administration that appeared to favor Russia, including easing economic sanctions. Reuters reported Friday that the Pentagon has told NATO allies to tone down public criticism of Russia, citing four people familiar with the matter. Trump has also accused Ukraine of raising fuel prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3 with attacks on Russian energy facilities. An "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine announced by Trump on Oct. 11 failed to yield any meaningful outcome.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The attacks knocked out power for more than 350,000 people in Dnipro and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, hitting civilian infrastructure in a major Ukrainian city.
- Zelensky's warning that Russia is preparing new ballistic missile attacks signals a possible escalation even as a local ceasefire in Kherson holds.
- Disagreements between Kyiv and Washington over air defense supplies and attacks on Russian energy could shape the next phase of the war and U.S. support.
Background
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, and the two countries have traded strikes since. In recent weeks, the Trump administration has taken steps that appeared to favor Russia, including easing economic sanctions, and announced an energy ceasefire on Oct. 11 that failed to yield any meaningful outcome. U.S.-brokered peace negotiations are expected next month in Abu Dhabi.
Key Perspectives
- Volodymyr Zelensky: says Russia is preparing new ballistic missile attacks and that Ukraine needs allied air defense capabilities to shoot them down.
- Donald Trump: has accused Ukraine of raising fuel prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections by attacking Russian energy facilities.
- Pentagon (per Reuters): has told NATO allies to tone down public criticism of Russia.
What to Watch
- Whether Russia launches the new ballistic missile attacks Zelensky warned were being prepared, and how Ukraine's air defenses respond.
- Whether the six-day Kherson ceasefire holds and leads to a broader truce.
- The U.S.-brokered peace negotiations expected next month in Abu Dhabi, and whether tensions between Zelensky and Trump ease or deepen.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedZelensky said, in an evening address from Kyiv, “We now have intel about the Russians preparing new ballistic missile attacks.”US Top News and Analysis: “"We now have intel about the Russians preparing new ballistic missile attacks," Zelenskyy said in an evening address from Kyiv.”
- SupportedZelensky added, “We need the capabilities to shoot down this Russian evil and are awaiting the decisions,” referring to allied anti-ballistic defense capabilities.US Top News and Analysis: “"We need the capabilities to shoot down this Russian evil and are awaiting the decisions," he added, referring to anti-ballistic defense capabilities provided by allies.”
- SupportedRussian attacks left Dnipro in a near-total blackout on Friday.US Top News and Analysis: “Emergency power cuts came into force in Dnipro and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast early Friday after damage from Russian attacks”
- SupportedMore than 350,000 people were without power, and work to restore supply was ongoing, according to regional military administration head Oleksandr Hanzha.US Top News and Analysis: “More than 350,000 people were left without power and work is ongoing to restore supply, Oleksandr Hanzha, the head of the military administration in the region, said in a Telegram post.”
- SupportedZelensky warned that Russia was preparing further ballistic missile attacks.US Top News and Analysis: “He also warned that Russia was preparing further high-speed missile attacks and urged Ukraine's allies to urgently supply more air defense interceptors”
- SupportedZelensky urged allies to supply more air defense interceptors.US Top News and Analysis: “He also warned that Russia was preparing further high-speed missile attacks and urged Ukraine's allies to urgently supply more air defense interceptors, particularly for Patriot systems.”
- SupportedDTEK said emergency power cuts took effect in Dnipro and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast early Friday after damage from Russian attacks.US Top News and Analysis: “Emergency power cuts came into force in Dnipro and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast early Friday after damage from Russian attacks, according to Ukrainian private energy company DTEK.”
- SupportedA Ukrainian drone set fire to an oil refinery in Novokuibyshevsk, Samara Oblast.US Top News and Analysis: “An oil refinery in the Russian city of Novokuibyshevsk in Samara Oblast that produced jet fuel for the Russian armed forces was set on fire after being hit by a Ukrainian drone.”
- SupportedThe refinery produced jet fuel for the Russian armed forces.US Top News and Analysis: “An oil refinery in the Russian city of Novokuibyshevsk in Samara Oblast that produced jet fuel for the Russian armed forces was set on fire after being hit by a Ukrainian drone.”
- SupportedA six-day local ceasefire in Kherson appeared to be holding for a third day.US Top News and Analysis: “The attacks came as a six-day local ceasefire in Kherson in southern Ukraine appeared to hold for a third day, raising cautious optimism that a broader truce may be possible.”
- SupportedA new round of U.S.-brokered peace negotiations was expected next month in Abu Dhabi.US Top News and Analysis: “While attempts at a peace deal have so far been unsuccessful, a new round of U.S.-brokered peace negotiations is expected next month in Abu Dhabi.”
- SupportedLate Thursday, Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had destroyed two Russian Su-34 fighter jets and struck an Iskander missile launcher.US Top News and Analysis: “Late Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces had destroyed two Russian Su-34 fighter jets and struck an Iskander missile launcher.”