Ukraine experienced one of the largest air attacks by Russia since the start of the invasion, targeting civilian infrastructure and causing multiple casualties on November 17, 2024.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy detailed the scale of the assault, describing it as a “massive combined strike on all regions of Ukraine.” The attack involved an array of drones and missiles, including Iranian-made Shaheed drones and cruise and ballistic missiles such as Zircon, Iskander, and Kinzhal.
“In total, about 120 missiles and 90 drones were launched,” Zelenskyy said in a statement. “Our air defense forces destroyed more than 140 air targets.”
Zelenskyy expressed deep appreciation for Ukraine’s air defense forces.
“We are grateful to all our air defense forces that were involved in repelling this attack: anti-aircraft missile forces, our aviation – F-16, [Sukhoi] and MiG pilots, mobile fire groups, electronic warfare units – everyone worked in an organized manner,” Zelenskyy concluded.
While Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted many projectiles, the widespread attack caused significant damage and civilian casualties. In Mykolaiv, a drone strike killed two people, including one child, and injured six others, Zelenskyy confirmed. Another casualty was reported in Lviv by Maksym Kozytsky, the military governor of the oblast.
The attack targeted critical energy infrastructure, leaving parts of the country without power as winter approaches.
“Russia launched drones and missiles on peaceful cities, sleeping civilians, and essential infrastructure,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced stated.
Maxim Timchenko, CEO of the national energy operator DTEK, reported emergency power outages in the Kyiv, Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk regions due to “severe damage” to thermal power plants.
In Odessa, a strategic port city, power was also cut, according to Oleh Kiper, head of the oblast’s military administration.
Attacks on infrastructure were confirmed in the central-western region of Vinnytsia, the western regions of Rivne and Volyn, and the southern Zaporizhia region.
Ukraine’s energy grid has been a persistent target in Russian air campaigns, as Moscow seeks to undermine the country’s resilience during the cold months. DTEK warned that continued assaults on power facilities could exacerbate energy shortages as winter intensifies.