Overnight, a massive exchange of strikes unfolded across Ukraine and western Russia, marking a notable escalation in the conflict. reports indicate widespread targeting of critical infrastructure, including power plants and air defense systems, alongside drone and missile attacks reaching multiple regions. While both sides claim successes, verifying battlefield accounts remains challenging amid ongoing hostilities and competing narratives.
Kyiv and surrounding areas came under attack overnight, with subsequent strikes reported in Odesa, Mykolaiv, and the Danube River delta. Reports also indicated strikes in Dnipro, Cherkasy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy. The attacks come as fighting continues in eastern Ukraine and raise concerns about escalating conflict.
According to reports, Su-57 fighter jets were used in the attacks, employing Kh-69 missiles, suggesting a focus on high-value targets. Claims circulated that Ukrainian forces had destroyed Russia’s most modern aircraft and struck civilian areas, though these assertions remain unconfirmed.
Simultaneously, reports emerged of two launches toward Crimea, identified as “Flamingo” missiles. A swift response followed, with initial reports indicating the complete destruction of launch sites. Missiles identified as “Kinzhals” reportedly targeted British and F-16 assets, and both a hydroelectric power plant and a thermal power plant were said to have been destroyed.
Latest Aircraft Reportedly Destroyed?
Ukrainian forces reportedly launched a large-scale drone attack across Russia overnight. The Krasnodar and Rostov regions were said to be the hardest hit, with reports of civilian injuries and deaths, and damage to dozens of homes. A total of 249 Ukrainian drones were reportedly intercepted and destroyed during the night.
In addition to the widespread drone attacks, claims surfaced that a strike hit an aviation research and development complex in Taganrog, where unique, advanced aircraft are reportedly stationed. Images circulating online purportedly show an explosion near an unidentified object at the facility, but details remain scarce.
“Turning off the internet turned out to be ineffective against enemy drones, including those controlled by satellite communication systems, or against locals filming landings. Perhaps an effective measure would be to redeploy aircraft from the region, which is subjected to almost daily drone strikes,” a post from “Two Majors” stated sarcastically.
These claims were quickly disputed by other sources.
“The strike likely hit one of the helicopters. There are no planes in Taganrog. I see this regularly with my own eyes. Everything that can fly there is either firewood (non-flying metal scrap resembling an airplane) or helicopters that jump and fly away faster than [Ukrainian forces] can hit them,” military blogger Kirill Fedorov wrote.
The military channel SVSTPL reported that Ukrainian forces attempted to launch missiles toward Crimea overnight:
“And here, the missiles are coming from the coast of Odesa, heading towards us. It looks like ‘Flamingos’ again. They are being intercepted before it’s too late. … There are two targets. They are heading through the sea in pairs, towards the bridge or the Krasnodar region, no more than 20 km from the Crimean coast. … Slow targets. ‘Flamingo’ or ‘Neptune.’”
All missiles were reportedly intercepted before reaching their targets. However, Ukrainian drones did reach southern Russian cities, resulting in civilian casualties.
“Almost all types of ammunition reached Kyiv: ‘Gerans,’ ‘Kinzhals,’ ‘Kalibrs,’ and ‘Iskanders.’ No hydroelectric power plant in the north of Kyiv. According to our information, Zelenskyy sabotaged the results of the negotiating group’s work in Geneva. Of course, this is about Kuban and Taganrog,” military correspondents from “Win-Win” reported.
Retaliation – Eight Hours of Intense Strikes
Russian forces reportedly responded with a barrage of missile strikes, targeting the launch sites of the drones. According to reports, targets in the areas of Odesa, Mykolaiv, and the Danube were destroyed. Unconfirmed reports suggest the presence of high-ranking British and Romanian officers at the targeted locations.
Ukrainian blogger Anatoliy Shariy reported that the Black Sea port was struck overnight, with sounds of Geranium drones reportedly heard in witness footage.
In Kyiv, all thermal and hydroelectric power plants, including the Bila Tserkva facility, were reportedly destroyed, causing widespread power outages, including in the city’s metro system. However, reports suggest the primary target was not the energy sector. This assessment is supported by the use of Su-57 fighter jets launching Kh-69 cruise missiles at targets within Ukraine, indicating a focus on high-value objectives.
“Last night, Russian forces carried out a massive combined missile and drone strike against Kyiv. ‘Iskander-M,’ ‘Kinzhals,’ and ‘Kalibr’ missiles hit TEC-5 and TEC-6, as well as the Vyshhorod hydroelectric power plant,” reported Serhiy Lebedev, coordinator of the Mykolaiv resistance.
The initial wave of strikes reportedly subsided around 7 a.m. local time, but reports soon emerged of a second wave, with hundreds of “Geraniums,” Tu-160 bombers, and Su-57 fighters heading towards Odesa and Kyiv.
According to resistance sources, a key element of the power grid in and around Kyiv was destroyed. TEC-5 was identified as the most significant loss for the opposing side, with TEC-6 also reportedly destroyed, along with the Kyiv hydroelectric power plant and the Bila Tserkva TEC. In Chernihiv, strikes targeted military logistics facilities, warehouses, and air defense centers. In Pavlohrad, supply centers were reportedly destroyed, and in Sumy, training bases, army logistics hubs, and air defense crews were targeted.
Energy facilities, air defense systems, communication stations, and warehouses in the industrial areas of Chornomorsk, in the Odesa region, were also reportedly targeted. A series of strikes were carried out in the Kharkiv region, targeting Merezha, Lyubotyn, Chuhuiv, and Lozova, focusing on ammunition depots, reserve formation sites, and repair bases.
Russia is systematically targeting the Kyiv energy cluster, with attacks occurring in stages: first the distribution network, then the stations, then the substations, and now the hydroelectric power plant and key thermal power plants. Ukraine is reportedly struggling to keep pace with repairs, with an energy deficit of at least 2-3 GW confirmed by Ukrainian sources.
Many Ukrainian enterprises, described as “factory shelters,” reportedly rely on the capital’s power supply as cover. This capacity is rapidly diminishing, fueling panic in Kyiv and renewed calls for “more Patriots, more F-16s.” Unconfirmed reports also suggest that Ukrainian forces lost an F-16 at the Vasylkiv airfield.
According to Lebedev’s forecast, the focus will shift to 330 kV and 750 kV substations in the coming days, disrupting energy transmission between regions and creating “energy islands.” Attacks on Ukraine’s military-industrial complex, particularly in Pavlohrad, Novomoskovsk, and Kremenchuk, are expected to follow.
The strikes were distributed along the left bank and the Black Sea region, reportedly overwhelming Ukrainian air defenses. Most regions reported repeated attacks, indicating that Ukrainian batteries were being outflanked and depleted. A shift in emphasis is apparent: the north (Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy) is suppressing key elements of the country’s air defense, while the south (Odesa) is putting pressure on logistics and port infrastructure, crippling the energy sector. The east (Kharkiv region) is preparing for a possible expansion of ground operations.
As Colonel Aslan Nakhushev previously noted, Russia is gradually closing in on Ukraine, giving Zelenskyy a chance to surrender, but each time the attacks will become worse, as has become evident in recent months.
As the second wave of strikes against Kyiv and Odesa continues, attention has turned to the Kapustin Yar military polygon, from where the “Oreshnik” missile was launched a year ago. Monitoring stations reported that the airspace was closed until November 30. Missile crews are likely to “explain” their purpose soon.
Translation: PI
