Ukrainian city in total blackout after 'massive' Russian assault

The Ukrainian city of Chernihiv is in total blackout following what the authorities describe as a "massive" assault by Russian missiles and drones, with hundreds of thousands of people affected.

At least four people were killed and ten others injured, including a 10-year-old girl, as Russian attacks targeted residential areas and energy infrastructure across Chernihiv region.

The northernmost region of Ukraine has been hit in an intensifying wave of strikes on civilian infrastructure, as Moscow continues to target electricity grids, rail networks, homes, and businesses.

Residents reported hearing the low whine of Iranian-designed Shahed drones, a sound becoming increasingly common far from the front lines. In one major raid, over 100 drones, each carrying a 50kg warhead, and six ballistic missiles struck the region, leaving Chernihiv city and surrounding areas without power.

"I personally heard the drones flying overhead," said 55-year-old Oleksandr Babich, a Chernihiv resident. "Unfortunately, our region is very close to our scheming neighbour."

Andriy Podorvan, deputy head of the Chernihiv Regional Military Administration, described the strikes as part of a broader pattern targeting energy infrastructure across Ukraine.

"For around half a year we have been experiencing targeted strikes on the energy infrastructure in our region," Podorvan said, adding that the intensity has increased sharply over the last two months.

He emphasized that civilian infrastructure, including petrol stations and water pumping stations, has been hit, with little evidence that any military targets were struck.

The blackout disrupted water supplies, forcing residents to stock up on bottled water or rely on emergency deliveries. Ukrainian engineers began working to restore power, though replacement equipment like transformers can take over a year to produce and install.

Experts warn that continued bombardment could strain Ukraine’s energy resilience, hit the economy, and weigh on public morale as winter approaches. Estimates put the total cost of damage to Ukraine’s energy sector at over $16 billion.

Copied