The Russian overnight airstrike, involving Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and dozens of attack UAVs, has plunged many areas in Ukraine into darkness.
The Russian Defense Ministry on October 5 confirmed that it had launched a large-scale attack by missiles and drones targeting Ukrainian defense industry facilities and energy systems serving these facilities.
According to the announcement, the campaign uses cruise missiles launched from land, sea and air, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles - a type of weapon considered the "trump card" of Russia. The Russian Defense Ministry affirmed: "All targets were hit. The goal of the attack was achieved.
Previously, a series of Ukrainian Telegram channels reported that many areas across the country were hit by missiles and UAVs overnight, including Sumy, Kharkov, Ivano- Frankovkovsk, Vinnitsa, Poltava, Chernigov and Odessa. In Lviv province alone - bordering Poland - at least 25 facilities were attacked, described as "one of the most intense airstrikes since 2022".
The Ukrainian Energy Ministry confirmed that many areas have widespread power outages, and recovery work is underway. The agency said the attack directly affected the power grid supplying defense plants and key industrial parks.
Russia insists the airstrikes are a response to Ukrainian UAV strikes on energy facilities and residential areas inside Russia. Moscow stressed that the attack target was only limited to military facilities, weapons depots and fuel depots and was not directed at civilians.
At the same time, Russia's Belgorod province continued to suffer a series of attacks from Ukraine. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that in the past 24 hours, more than 70 artillery shells and 105 UAVs were launched into this border area.
The airstrikes targeted many cities and villages, killing at least two people and injuring three. Some UAVs were shot down, but many agricultural equipment and houses were destroyed.
The Russia-Ukraine war is entering a new phase of escalation with a rapid pace of attack and increasingly modern weapons technology. Observers say Russia's simultaneous use of Kinzhal missiles, suicide UAVs and multi-ended strikes shows Moscow is aiming to paralyze Ukraine's defense industry before the upcoming winter.
