Kyiv hit by Russian strikes on power plant as energy truce frays

Russian ballistic missiles struck a major power station and apartment blocks in Kyiv late on Tuesday, knocking out critical energy infrastructure and leaving at least one person dead in the Ukrainian capital.

The strike hit the Darnytska combined heat and power plant, known as CHP-4, which supplies heating and electricity across the Dniprovskyi and Darnytskyi districts. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said one person died and 13 were injured when an apartment block was hit during the barrage, with four people in serious condition.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine received no early warnings from international partners ahead of the incoming ballistic missiles. Washington has typically provided immediate launch data to enable Kyiv to trigger air-raid sirens and engage Patriot interceptor batteries.

"Ukraine supported an energy ceasefire. Russia is targeting yet another power plant and the lives of our people," Zelensky said. "This is absolutely unjust: when they are destroying our energy infrastructure, and Ukraine is not even receiving early warnings about ballistic missile launches."

Impact across Ukrainian regions

The strikes on the capital formed part of a broader wave of more than 100 aerial weapons launched across the country since Monday evening. Emergency crews worked through the night in several cities.

The Russian Defence Ministry stated that its forces conducted coordinated strikes against military-industrial sites, transport infrastructure, railway logistics, and cargo vessels. Moscow also claimed that its air defences intercepted 604 Ukrainian drones overnight, including more than 400 directed towards the Moscow region.

Disputed energy truce

The bombardment came two days after US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that an "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine had taken effect immediately. Moscow has not verified any formal pact. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted only that contacts on the subject continue, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Ukraine did not deserve the respite a truce would offer.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump denied suggestions that the United States had withheld ballistic tracking data from Kyiv. "We are helping them and we are sharing intel," Trump said. "We want the war to end. So we're working with them and with Russia on getting the war to end."

When asked whether Moscow had violated the proposed truce, Trump demurred, remarking that Ukraine had struck targets earlier and that both sides wanted an end to hostilities but struggled with the path there.

Zelensky maintained that Ukrainian forces had halted strikes against Russian refineries since the US announcement. With temperatures dropping and the CHP-4 plant sustaining fresh damage after earlier repairs this year, the strikes leave Ukraine's grid under severe pressure as winter approaches.