Russia launched a massive drone attack on the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih overnight on Friday, Oct.16-17, hitting infrastructure sites and causing several fires, officials said.
The attack came nearly three years to the day since Moscow began its campaign to destroy Ukraine’s power grid – a tactic repeated each winter in an effort to plunge the country into darkness and cold.
Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city’s Defense Council, said Russian forces carried out more than 10 strikes with Shahed drones. Ukraine’s air defenses shot down 22 drones over the region, but some still hit their targets.
“The enemy massively attacked Kryvyi Rih with Shaheds,” Vilkul said on Telegram. “Fires broke out at infrastructure sites, but all have been extinguished. The most important thing – thank God – there are no casualties.”
According to Vilkul, energy facilities were damaged, leaving several areas without power, including the villages of Avanhard, Verabovo, and Mirovske. Repair crews are working to restore electricity.
The State Emergency Service confirmed that a fire broke out at an industrial facility but was quickly extinguished.
“Energy infrastructure was damaged, but no one was injured,” rescuers said. Eighty-six firefighters and 28 pieces of equipment were involved in the response.
Vilkul also reported that while there were no attacks in the Kryvyi Rih district itself, Russian forces struck nearby Nikopol and the Pokrovska community with heavy artillery and drones. Two women, aged 69 and 89, were injured, and several residential buildings and cars were damaged.
President Zelensky said the strike was part of Russia’s ongoing campaign to cripple Ukraine’s energy system.
“A wave of drones hit Kryvyi Rih – targeting civilian infrastructure,” Zelensky said.
“There hasn’t been a single night in recent weeks without Russian attacks. Most of the targets are infrastructure. This is systematic terror against our energy sector.”
He warned that the Kremlin is attempting to turn Ukrainian territory into “an island of danger and suffering.” He added that Russia will eventually be forced to stop the war when it can no longer continue.
“True readiness for peace is not in Putin’s words, but in stopping attacks and killings – and that’s exactly what he cannot do,” Zelensky said.
The president also highlighted the role of Ukraine’s Western partners in strengthening the country’s defenses. “Every air defense system for Ukraine saves lives. Every decision that strengthens us brings the end of the war closer,” he said.
Zelensky’s comments came amid a recent US statement on potential missile transfers. Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump hinted that Tomahawk missiles might be sent to Ukraine.
However, on Thursday – following his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and one day ahead of his meeting with Zelensky in Washington, DC – he said the US “needs Tomahawks for the US too,” adding that he “can’t deplete [them] for our country,” leaving the future of the transfer unclear.
The attack on Kryvyi Rih followed a major strike on Ukraine’s gas infrastructure on Thursday, Oct. 16. Russia’s assault caused extensive damage in the Poltava region, halting all gas production after critical extraction facilities were hit.