Local media claimed that Russian drones had targeted the key thermal power plant in the city

The recent wave of Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure has caused a large-scale blackout in Kiev, local media and officials have reported. Russia's Ministry of Defense has yet to comment.

In the early hours of Friday, Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko stated that the Ukrainian capital came under a "massive attack", adding that the left bank of Kiev was "currently without power supply" and that there were also problems with water distribution. He said nine people had been injured, with five of them taken to the hospital. "The situation is difficult," he said.

Klitschko also reported several fires in the city, urging citizens to "stay in shelters," adding that energy workers are working to restore supply.

According to Ukrainian media outlets, several Russian drones targeted Kiev's Thermal Power Plant No. 6, one of the city's key electricity suppliers. The reported strike caused widespread outages, with some local channels also claiming that parts of the right bank had lost power.

Videos posted on social networks appeared to show much of Kiev plunged into darkness. In one clip, a powerful explosion was followed by the lights going out along a major highway.

Elsewhere, officials in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporozhye also reported a Russian attack and fires, noting that one person died of his injuries in the hospital, with two others being in a serious condition.

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Russia has been conducting recurring strikes on Ukraine's military-related infrastructure and defense industrial complex. It has said that the attacks were a retaliation for Kiev's "terrorist" raids into the country, which often target critical infrastructure and residential areas. Moscow maintains that its attacks never target civilians.

(RT.com)