A Russian overnight air strike hit critical infrastructure in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk and caused major power and water disruptions, according to Mayor Vitalii Maletskyi. City officials shared photos showing a large blaze burning through what appeared to be industrial buildings, while emergency crews worked throughout the night.
Kremenchuk is a major industrial center on the Dnipro River and home to one of Ukraine’s biggest oil refineries, so any damage quickly affects thousands of residents and local businesses. The city has suffered repeated missile attacks since the war began, including a 2022 strike on a busy shopping mall that killed at least 21 people and shocked the country.
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Maletskyi said full damage assessments will be released after teams inspect the affected sites; however, he confirmed that several districts experienced power, heating and water outages. Moreover, crews were deployed early Sunday to restore utilities and reduce potential risks as winter temperatures continue to drop and energy demands rise.
Russia has recently increased long-range strikes on Ukrainian power, heating and water networks in an attempt to weaken public morale and slow industrial production during the cold season. In previous winters, similar attacks caused nationwide blackouts, emergency rationing and limited access to basic services, forcing cities to operate temporary shelters.
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Ukraine’s Air Force repeatedly warned overnight that Kremenchuk was under threat from drones and missiles, although independent verification of the exact damage remains unavailable. Despite ongoing danger and continued attacks, the mayor said the city would recover and promised that repairs will continue until essential services return to normal.