THIS is the terrifying moment drones took out much of Ukraine’s energy system, plunging cities into darkness as Putin’s horror onslaught continues.
Overnight, blistering missile and drone attacks took out most of Kyiv‘s electricity and disrupted water supplies, as critical infrastructure was hit across the country.
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The continuation of the strikes comes after Russia hammered the port of Chornomorsk in Odesa, targeting an alleged shipment of Western ammo.
Russian strikes reportedly targeted at least three hydroelectric power plants and multiple thermal generating stations in a blatant assault against civilians.
The offensive comes before temperatures begin to plummet as winter grows closer.
Huge Ukrainian regions including Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava and Sumy have since faced acute power cuts.
Before this latest bombardment, Putin’s strikes had already disabled more than half of Ukraine’s gas supplies.
Kyiv’s left bank was thrown into a blackout on Thursday night, leaving up to 70 per cent of the city without electricity.
The outage was caused by a strike on the CHP-6 power and heating plant – feared to be the war’s biggest attack so far on Ukraine‘s energy infrastructure.
The attack is three years to the day after the first Russian strikes on power plants.
Local reports said there had been “missiles, one after another”.
At least a dozen people were wounded in the capital, as their homes in a 17-floor tower block in the Pechersk district were blitzed.
The underground metro railway also suffered delays and disruption.
Vitali KlitschkoKyiv mayor, said: “All emergency teams are monitoring the situation and [are] ready to respond”.
“The left bank of the capital is without electricity,” he confirmed.
“There are also problems with water supply.”
In Zaporizhzhia, a seven-year-old boy was the latest civilian victim of the Russian strikes.
The head of the regional military administration Ivan Fedorov said: “Doctors fought for the child’s life until the very end”.
“[But] the injuries were too severe.”
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The Zaporizhzhia region also suffered major blows to infrastructure, as the strategic Dnipro Hydroelectric Station with a 121ft high dam was damaged, and traffic across its roadway halted.
The road closure was labelled as “precautionary”.
Residents have since been urged to limit gas use after the nightmare seven hour onslaught of Russian strikes with ballistic and cruise missiles, killer drones and aerial bombs.
The Kremenchuk Hydroelectric Power Station was hit, alongside the Kryvyi Rih Thermal Power Plant in Volodymyr Zelensky’s home city.
Harrowing accounts have simultaneously emerged from Ukraine’s mandatory evacuation of thousands of people from the settlements Near hood and Dnipropetrovsk Region.
Yulija, an evacuee, said: “It was hard to leave, I was crying”.
“I even said goodbye to the furniture, kissed the walls of the house.
“We did everything with our hands, worked hard, earned what we could,” she continued.
“And look what they’ve done.”
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Russian state media war reporter Andrey Rudenko gloated in his coverage of the attacks, crudely referring to the energy strikes as “probably a final shot to the head for Zelensky”.
Fighterbomber, a Russian military YouTube channel, said “This is what is called thoughtful and consistent work to take out the enemy’s energy system”.
“The fact that heating is taken out along with electricity is a nice bonus,” they continued.
“The main thing is that such work continues as long as necessary without interruption.”
The head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional council Nikolay Lukashuk commented on the latest strikes.
“Russia expects that a harsh winter and depriving Ukrainians of heat, light and water will break the country’s will and improve Moscow’s negotiating positions,” he said.
“Be ready for any scenarios,” he warned Ukrainians.
In spite of the carnage, Ukraine hit back at Russia, vowing revenge for the overnight energy attacks and threatening to do the same in retaliation.
Andriy Yermak, head of Zelenky’s office, said Russian infrastructure “will be destroyed”.
“Russia must understand that strikes on our infrastructure will be met with a response and their infrastructure will be destroyed,” he said.
The latest attacks come three days after Putin’s top war commander General Valery Gerasimov had vowed new “targeted, massive strikes” against the country under siege.
Putin also declared the war would go on indefinitely, taking time out of his birthday celebrations to comment on the ongoing conflict.
“We must ensure the unconditional fulfilment of all objectives, the achievement of all the goals facing the troops during the special military operation,” the 73-year-old tyrant said.
Russia’s state TV also gave a chilling account of the war plan.
Mikhail Khodaryonok, VestiFM military analyst, said “destroying [Ukraine’s] energy facilities” was the “focus”, calling for a “sharp increase” of firepower against Ukrainians.
“It must be carried out purposefully, consistently, methodically, over a long period of time, without interruption, preventing the enemy from restoring what was destroyed,” he said.
“Hammering, hammering, hammering, and achieving a result when the last light goes out.”
““[This] is the most humane and expeditious path to ending the armed conflict on Russian terms.” he added.
“[There was] the broadest possible public [support] for this tactic.”
Russia has suffered its own damage, losing a £42 million MiG-31 fighter jet – a carrier of hyper-sonic Kinzhal, or Dagger, missiles – which crashed in the Lipetsk region.
The cause of the crash remains unexplained, after it went down during a “training flight”.
The two crew members were ejected and rescued, however sustained injuries.
Despite the increasing violence, Donald Trump said he was optimistic following his success in Gaza.
“I think they’ll be coming to the table pretty soon,” he said.