Massive Russian Strikes Kill Two In Kyiv, Target Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure Overnight

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service October 22, 2025

Drone and missile strikes on Ukraine's capital killed at least two people as Russia targeted the country's energy infrastructure in a "massive" attack overnight, according to Ukrainian officials.

"The death toll in the capital has risen to two," Tymur Tkachenko said on Telegram on October 22, as other city officials reported a major drone attack on the city.

Ukraine's Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk stated on Facebook that Russia had carried out a "massive" overnight attack targeting the country's energy infrastructure.

In a message posted on October 22, Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said that as a result of the Russian attack on the capital, two people were killed and five others were injured.

"Medical personnel hospitalized all the injured, including a two-year-old child," he added.

He said that debris from drones and missiles caused fires in Kyiv's Dnipro, Pechersk, and Darnytsya districts, damaging residential buildings and industrial sites.

The attack began late on October 21 as witnesses reported hearing explosions and air defense units in operation.

Emergency services were dispatched to several sites where debris from the destroyed air weapons fell, sparking fires.

A house caught fire in the region surrounding Kyiv, injuring an elderly woman, said regional Governor Mykola Kalashnyk on Telegram.

Authorities in southeastern Ukraine also reported attacks. Russian drones hit the city of Zaporizhzhya, igniting fires in several residential buildings, regional Governor Ivan Fedorov said on Telegram.

"Due to an enemy attack overnight, nearly 2,000 people are without electricity. Recovery work will begin as soon as security allows," he reported.

Volodymyr Kohut, the head of the Poltava regional military administration, said that direct hits and falling debris caused damage to oil and gas industry facilities in the Myrhorod district.

An industrial town west of Dnipro was also targeted by Russian missiles and drones, the Ukrainian Air Force said. No damage or casualties were reported.

The Ukrainian attack on the chemical plant took place earlier in Russia's southern Bryansk region. The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on October 21 that Ukrainian forces used French-British Storm Shadow missiles in the attack.

"A massive combined missile and air strike was carried out, including with Storm Shadow air-launched missiles, which overcame the Russian air defense system," the General Staff said. "The results of the strike are being assessed," it added.

The General Staff described the chemical plant as an important component of the Russian military-industrial complex, producing gunpowder, explosives, components for rocket fuel, and "for ammunition and missiles that the Russian military uses to shell the territory of Ukraine."

The Air Force launched the attack in cooperation with ground forces, the Navy, and other components of the Ukrainian defense forces.

Aleksandr Bogomaz, the governor of Bryansk region, said on Telegram that Ukraine attacked the region with drones and missiles. He added that no one was injured, and no damage was reported.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram that during the afternoon on October 21 its air defense units destroyed 57 Ukrainian drones over the Bryansk region.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Reuters, and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war- chemical-plant-kyiv/33566126.html

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Massive Russian Strikes Kill Two In Kyiv, Target Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure Overnight