Russia fired 36 ballistic missiles at Kyiv and the surrounding region overnight on November 6-7, damaging energy facilities and the Pivnichnyi Bridge, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Four of the missiles were intercepted, according to Zelenskyy.
Ukraine’s preliminary assessment indicates that Russian forces used North Korean-made KN-23 missiles against one of the damaged energy facilities, he said. Technical assessments at the sites were still underway. The missile identification has not been independently confirmed in the available reporting.
The strikes also damaged substations linking the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plants to Kyiv, as well as facilities in the Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Kharkiv and Dnipro regions, Zelenskyy said. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported disruptions to the capital’s heating and water systems, alongside a difficult situation with energy supply.
At least nine people were injured in the attack, according to The Associated Press. A kindergarten was also partially destroyed, Zelenskyy said. The damage to power infrastructure and the bridge was also reported by Ukrainian authorities.
Kyiv urges faster air-defense deliveries
Zelenskyy called on Ukraine’s allies to speed up deliveries of interceptor missiles. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the attacks targeted critical energy infrastructure and accused Moscow of seeking to deprive Ukrainians of electricity, heating and water as winter approaches.
Zelenskyy also said the strikes could be intended to increase pressure on Kyiv ahead of planned trilateral talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States in Abu Dhabi. That was his assessment of the attack’s possible purpose; no agreement from the talks was reported.
The KN-23 was identified in a preliminary Ukrainian assessment. The Kyiv Independent also reported Ukraine’s claim that the missile was used in the strike.
Nicole French