Ukrainian authorities announced early Friday that the electricity was cut off across eastern Kyiv following intense Russian strikes targeting energy facilities in several regions of Ukraine, resulting in the death of a seven-year-old child in Zaporizhzhia (southeast).

The mayor said via Telegram that “the left bank (eastern) is now without electricity, and there are also problems with the water network.”

Multiple Explosions

On Thursday night into Friday, multiple explosions were heard in Kyiv, along with the sounds of attack drones flying over the capital, according to AFP.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Energy declared that the country’s energy facilities are under a “massive” Russian attack.

The ministry posted on Facebook that “the Russians are now launching massive strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.”

In Zaporizhzhia, a seven-year-old child was killed in a Russian shelling, according to local military authorities. Ivan Fedorov, head of the Zaporizhzhia military region, wrote on Telegram: “Tragic news: a seven-year-old child died in hospital after being wounded in a Russian attack at night.”

“Sowing Chaos”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia on Wednesday of seeking to “sow chaos” in his country by intensifying recent strikes on energy and railway facilities, leading to calls for families with children to evacuate.

Zelensky said in a media interview, “Russia’s goal is to sow chaos and exert psychological pressure on the population by hitting energy and railway facilities.”

He also noted that “Russian attacks are putting great pressure” on Ukraine’s gas sector, which may force Kyiv to increase imports.

Last winter, Russian shelling halved Ukraine’s national gas production.