Russia launched massive attack on Ukraine on US congressional election day, Zelenskyy

Russia launched a large-scale overnight attack on Ukraine, targeting critical infrastructure, particularly energy facilities, on the day of the US congressional elections, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

“This was a difficult, massive attack by the Russians last night, primarily targeting critical infrastructure,” Zelenskyy said.

According to the Ukrainian president, power generation facilities and substations were targeted in the Odesa, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Chernivtsi, Chernihiv and Rivne regions. Emergency power cuts remain in place in numerous cities and communities.

In Kharkiv, Russian forces struck a clinical hospital, injuring 73 people and damaging its cardiology department, where patients were receiving treatment.

Zelenskyy also reported that rescue operations had been underway since the previous day in Kami­shevakha, Zaporizhzhia region, following another Russian attack. The death toll there has risen to 29, with five people injured. Rescue workers continue searching for people trapped under the rubble, despite the risk of further strikes.

Zelenskyy added Russia launched 289 attack drones, 17 ballistic missiles and 59 cruise missiles overnight.

Ukraine’s air defence forces intercepted or suppressed 309 targets, while missiles and drones struck 23 locations.

Zelenskyy described the timing of the attack as significant, saying it coincided with the US congressional elections.

“Russia thinks that America will not notice this signal. However, this kind of terror must be noticed and stopped,” he said.

The Ukrainian president called on international partners to help strengthen the country's air defences, warning that Russia would otherwise continue its missile attacks.