Drone attacks disrupt Ukraine power grid amid defence shake-up
Russian drone and missile strikes have killed seven people and caused regional power outages across Ukraine, complicating a major government reshuffle that has sparked public protests.
Russia launched more than 130 attack drones and eight missiles at Ukraine overnight, killing at least seven people and injuring 67 others. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes hit a broad swath of the country, including Odesa, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Kherson, Donetsk, and Dnipro. The barrage coincided with a significant cabinet reshuffle in Kyiv.
The attacks caused immediate disruptions to Ukraine's energy infrastructure, a key concern for European energy security. Ukrenergy, the state electricity grid operator, reported power outages across five regions: Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Sumy. Ukrainian air defence systems managed to intercept 115 unmanned aerial vehicles and five missiles, mitigating what could have been a more severe grid failure.
For European investors and energy markets, the timing of the strikes carries particular weight. The assault followed Zelenskyy's appointment of Sergii Koretskyi as the new prime minister. Koretskyi brings direct energy sector experience, having previously served as the head of Naftogaz, the state gas operator that remains a vital entity in regional energy dynamics.
However, the economic focus of the reshuffle was quickly overshadowed by political turbulence. Zelenskyy also removed defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov from his post. The abrupt dismissal has reportedly left the country's military leadership "unsettled", raising questions about stability at a time when sustaining air defences and protecting critical infrastructure require coordinated leadership.
The government changes have triggered a visible public backlash. Protests have broken out in Kyiv and other cities specifically opposing the removal of Fedorov. Demonstrators took to the streets holding signs reading "Don't mess with what works", "Hands off Fedorov", "Bring Fedorov back", and "Power still belongs to the people".
On the military front, the Russian Defence Ministry said it had downed 243 Ukrainian drones overnight into Friday. The exchange of heavy fire highlights the sustained pressure on Ukraine's power network and its leadership, even as the government attempts to reorganise its top ranks.
