On April 24, Ukraine faced another massive barrage of drone and missile strikes from Russian forces, resulting in widespread power outages and civilian casualties. According to an official update from Ukrenergo, electricity was cut off in 13 regions due to the attacks and adverse weather. The Ukrainian Air Force reported the interception of nearly a hundred enemy drones, while the State Emergency Service of Ukraine documented severe destruction in residential areas, particularly in Odesa, where strikes tragically claimed lives.
The nation’s energy infrastructure took a significant hit during the nighttime bombardment. Drone strikes disrupted the power supply for thousands of consumers in the Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Odesa regions. Where the local security situation permits, emergency response teams have already begun active restoration work. Additionally, severe spring weather, including strong wind gusts, exacerbated the crisis, leaving over 100 settlements completely or partially without electricity across ten regions, including Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Chernihiv. Overall electricity consumption increased by 3.5% compared to the previous morning. Energy experts attribute this rise to cold weather and heavy cloud cover, which significantly reduced the operational efficiency of solar power plants. Consequently, authorities have urged citizens to limit the use of high-consumption electrical appliances during peak evening hours from 18:00 to 22:00.
Russian forces launched a highly coordinated assault using two “Iskander-M” ballistic missiles fired from the Rostov region and 107 strike drones of various types, including Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas. The Ukrainian air defense systems demonstrated exceptional efficiency. Mobile fire groups, aviation, and electronic warfare units successfully destroyed or suppressed 96 unmanned aerial vehicles across the northern, southern, and eastern regions. Despite these successful interceptions, a few drones and ballistic missiles managed to bypass the defensive shield, striking nine separate locations and causing localized damage.
The most devastating consequences of the night attack were recorded in the southern port city of Odesa. Enemy drones directly hit multiple residential buildings and surrounding civilian infrastructure. The powerful strikes sparked large-scale fires and caused the partial collapse of two- and three-story apartment blocks. Rescue operations at the scene revealed a tragic toll: an elderly couple, both aged 75, was killed in their home. Furthermore, at least 14 civilians sustained varying degrees of injuries. Over 140 firefighters and emergency medical crews worked tirelessly through the night. They rescued trapped residents from the rubble, evacuated dozens of people—including small children—and provided vital psychological support to over 50 survivors experiencing severe stress. The cleanup operations in Odesa are still ongoing.