Russian attacks across Ukraine killed seven people and injured around 90 over the past 24 hours, regional authorities said on Saturday, as Moscow launched one of its largest assaults on the country’s energy infrastructure ahead of winter.

Ukraine’s Air Force said its forces intercepted or downed 289 of the 332 drones launched by Russia overnight, including jet-powered attack drones. Russian drones and ballistic missiles, including Iskander-M or North Korean KN-23 models, struck 22 locations, while falling debris was reported in three other areas.

Ukrainian officials said the attacks targeted energy facilities across the country, leaving some households without electricity.

President Volodymyr Zelensky described the assault as one of the largest Russian strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, saying Russian forces had targeted more than 15 key power generation and transmission facilities.

Zelensky urged Washington to increase pressure on Moscow, criticising a reported US decision to disregard legislation associated with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham that was intended to impose further pressure on Russia.

“Financial rewards for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin — all of this only encourages him to keep attacking. We must not give up ground,” Zelensky said on social media, calling for stronger sanctions against Russia.

In Kharkiv Oblast, Russian attacks killed a 58-year-old man and a 71-year-old woman, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Another 41 people, including three children, were injured or suffered stress-related effects.

In Sumy Oblast, Russian drone attacks injured seven people, including four women and three men, local authorities reported.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a 74-year-old woman was killed and two men were injured in attacks near Nikopol. Another man was killed in the regional capital, Dnipro, after Russian forces struck an industrial facility, according to regional authorities.

Russian forces also launched a major assault on Vinnytsia Oblast in central Ukraine, targeting civilian and critical infrastructure and injuring six people, Governor Natalia Zabolotna said.

In Odesa Oblast, attacks on civilian infrastructure injured at least four people, Governor Oleh Kiper reported.

Two people were killed in Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast, while another 15 were injured across the region over the previous day, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian attacks injured six people, according to Ivan Fedorov, head of the regional military administration.

Meanwhile, in Kherson Oblast, Russian forces targeted 31 towns and villages, including the regional capital, Kherson. The attacks killed one person and injured at least 19 others, including children, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.

The latest attacks come as Russia intensifies its campaign against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure ahead of the winter months, raising concerns about electricity and heating supplies as temperatures fall.

Ukrainian authorities said repeated strikes on power generation and transmission facilities are placing additional pressure on the country’s energy system and threatening essential services for civilians.

Kyiv has called on its Western partners to strengthen military support and increase economic pressure on Moscow, arguing that continued attacks on critical infrastructure demonstrate the need for stronger measures to deter further Russian strikes.

The latest assault underscores the continuing toll of the war on Ukrainian civilians and the growing challenge of protecting the country’s energy infrastructure as winter approaches. (ILKHA)