A massive Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv early Friday resulted in widespread blackouts and injuries to at least 20 individuals, targeting critical energy infrastructure as winter approaches. Ukraine’s air defenses successfully intercepted the majority of the 465 drones and 32 missiles launched in this concentrated assault, which has been described as one of the largest strikes against the country’s energy grid. Subsequently, power was restored to over 800,000 residents by Saturday, according to Ukraine’s largest private energy provider, DTEK, although localized outages persisted. The Kremlin claimed that these strikes aimed at energy facilities supporting the Ukrainian military, indicating a strategic effort to undermine both military capabilities and civilian morale during the harsh winter months. This escalation in hostilities highlights the ongoing battle for control over essential infrastructure, with international leaders from Britain, France, and Germany expressing solidarity with Ukraine by pledging to leverage frozen Russian assets to bolster Ukrainian defenses. This situation underscores the critical importance of energy security in the broader geopolitical context and poses significant challenges for Ukraine as it prepares for an arduous winter while contending with continued Russian aggression.