Five Killed, Energy Infrastructure Damaged in Major Russian Airstrike on Ukraine — October 5, 2025

Five Killed, Energy Infrastructure Damaged in Massive Russian Airstrike on Ukraine — October 5, 2025

On October 5, 2025, Russia launched a large-scale overnight airstrike on several Ukrainian regions, killing at least five people and severely damaging the country’s energy infrastructure. According to Ukrainian officials, more than 50 missiles and hundreds of Iranian-made Shahed drones targeted key cities including Lviv, Zaporizhzhia, and Ivano-Frankivsk, located near Poland’s border.

In Lviv, a residential building was hit directly, killing four members of the same family, including a 15-year-old child. Another person died in Zaporizhzhia as missiles struck industrial and energy facilities. Around 70,000 homes were left without power, and multiple substations and power plants caught fire due to the intense bombardment. Ukraine’s national energy operator confirmed that several major energy sites were damaged, disrupting electricity and heating supplies across western and central regions.

Russia claimed that its strikes targeted military and industrial sites, but Ukrainian authorities accused Moscow of deliberately attacking civilian and energy infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, calling them “terror against civilians,” and appealed to Western allies for additional air defense systems. He warned that Moscow aims to cripple Ukraine’s energy network before the onset of winter, worsening living conditions for millions.

In response, Poland placed its air defense forces on high alert after fragments of Russian missiles were detected near its border. The European Union, United Nations, and several human rights organizations denounced the attacks, calling them a violation of international humanitarian law. Analysts warned that prolonged damage to Ukraine’s energy sector could trigger a humanitarian crisis as winter approaches.

The ongoing strikes have already crippled parts of Ukraine’s power grid. Experts say Moscow’s strategy appears to be focused on weakening Ukraine’s resilience by targeting energy, industrial, and civilian infrastructure critical to survival and defense. The escalation has once again drawn global attention to the fragility of Ukraine’s energy systems and the urgent need for advanced Western air defense support.

As winter nears, Ukraine faces not only the challenge of rebuilding but also the threat of widespread blackouts and humanitarian suffering. The international community has reiterated its commitment to supporting Kyiv, but continued Russian strikes on energy infrastructure could have long-term consequences for both Ukraine’s recovery and European energy stability.