Russia pounds the Kyiv region, killing 4 and targeting the power grid

Kyiv, Ukraine (AP) — Russia continued its month-long missile and drone attack on Kyiv and surrounding areas, resulting in the deaths of four people, including a child, while also targeting the power grid and a key internet exchange point, officials reported on Wednesday. The continuous escalation of Russia's aerial campaign since late August is putting immense pressure on Ukraine as it prepares for winter, a period when Russia typically bombards energy facilities to disrupt heating and running water for Ukrainians.

Ukraine has no communication with the United States over efforts to cease the fighting, 4.5 years after Russia invaded its neighbor. Instead, Moscow insists on a comprehensive settlement, which Kyiv finds unacceptable as it demands the surrender of Ukrainian territory. A child was among those killed, and three others were rescued from the debris of a private home in Vyshhorod, located in the wider Kyiv region, according to Tymur Tkachenko, head of the regional military administration.

Russia has successfully bypassed Ukrainian air defenses by utilizing ballistic missiles and advanced jet-powered drones, both of which are extremely difficult to intercept. The air raid alerts are causing significant disruption to daily life, prompting people to take shelter and negatively impacting economic output. The attacks claimed three lives in Kyiv and inflicted injuries on at least four others, with a further fatality occurring near the city, according to Ukrainian authorities.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the situation on social media, describing it as "a difficult attack" as Moscow continues to strain Ukraine's air defenses. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to foreign nations for their recent deliveries of air defense assistance, emphasizing that as winter approaches, the need for such protection becomes increasingly critical.

He stressed the importance of doing everything possible to prevent Russia's strategy of ballistic missile and drone terror from succeeding. Russia launched a total of 2,850 jet-propelled drones at Ukraine in August, but by Tuesday, the number had already risen to 3,177 for this month, reported Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat.

The strikes were concentrated in waves, primarily targeting Kyiv and the surrounding region. Ukraine requires additional missiles for U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems to counter ballistic missiles and ground-based air defenses, Ihnat stated. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its nighttime attack targeted a hydroelectric and thermal power plant, an electrical substation, an energy storage facility, and a data center.

However, Ukrainian officials have yet to confirm these specific strikes. Authorities reported damages in at least four districts of Kyiv.