• Russian strikes on Kyiv injure at least 20 and kill a seven-year-old child.
• Power is cut across large parts of Ukraine, affecting over a million households.
• Ukrainian officials describe the attacks as a "massive strike" on energy facilities.
• Residents face severe disruptions in water supply and public transport.
• Ukraine prepares for winter amid ongoing military challenges and energy concerns.

On Friday, Kyiv was plunged into darkness following coordinated Russian drone and missile strikes that targeted the city’s energy infrastructure. At least 20 people were injured in the capital, while a seven-year-old child was killed in the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia during a separate attack, according to reports from local authorities Indiatimes, Los Angeles Times, and South China Morning Post.

The attacks left over a million households across the country without power, as they struck residential buildings and energy facilities critical for the city’s functioning. Reports indicate that this effort is part of Russia's continued strategy to undermine Ukraine's energy capabilities ahead of the winter season Al Jazeera and BBC.

Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, described the strikes as “cynical and calculated,” aimed at creating chaos and applying psychological pressure on the Ukrainian populace as they head into the winter months Le Monde and Indiatimes.

The strikes resulted in significant disruptions to water supply and transport, with many residents of Kyiv waiting in long lines at water distribution points following the extensive outages. The Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, reported that the attacks affected critical infrastructure significantly, confirming that repair efforts were already underway Los Angeles Times and TRT Global.

As winter approaches, Ukrainians are bracing for more challenges as ongoing attacks aim to cripple the nation’s energy grid. Officials warn that the severity of these assaults on infrastructure could exacerbate humanitarian issues, requiring international support and strategic responses to enhance air defense systems South China Morning Post and Indiatimes.