Russia targets energy infrastructure in three oblasts

Russian forces attacked energy infrastructure in Odesa, Donetsk, and Kharkiv oblasts overnight, Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy reported. The strikes caused damage to critical facilities, prompting immediate repair efforts. Officials said hourly blackout schedules are now in effect across most oblasts, lasting from 00:00 to 23:59.

Power grid operator Ukrenergo noted that the blackout schedules apply in two to four alternating stages and affect both households and industrial users. These schedules are published on the websites of regional power distribution operators.

Crews have begun emergency restoration works and expect power to be restored by the end of the day.

Odesa hit by fire, rail depot and admin buildings damaged

In Odesa Oblast, Russian drones struck both energy and transport infrastructure overnight. The State Emergency Service of Odesa Oblast reported fires at energy sites, which were extinguished by 22 emergency workers with four vehicles, alongside two vehicles and seven personnel from local fire brigades. The Odesa Oblast Military Administration said administrative buildings and a Ukrzaliznytsia rail depot were among the damaged targets.

One civilian suffered shrapnel wounds and received medical attention. Local authorities confirmed that critical infrastructure is now operating on backup generators, and “invincibility points” have been opened to provide heating and electricity access for civilians. Law enforcement is documenting what officials describe as further Russian war crimes.

According to Suspilne, the air raid alert in Odesa Oblast began at 23:01 on 10 November. The Air Force warned of incoming attack drones from the Black Sea toward Izmail district. At 00:28, several groups of drones were confirmed moving toward Reni. The alert ended at 1:35.

Nearly 120 drones launched, Ukraine intercepts just 53

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 119 attack UAVs between the evening of 10 November and the morning of 11 November, using explosive Shahed, decoy Gerbera, and other types of drones. Launch points included Russia’s Oryol, Bryansk, Kursk, and Millerovo, as well as the Russian-occupied village of Hvardiiske in Crimea. Approximately 80 of the drones were Shaheds.

The strikes focused on frontline oblasts including the oblasts of Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk, as well as Odesa. Ukraine’s defense used aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare systems, drone defense groups, and mobile fire teams to respond. As of 09:30, 53 drones had been shot down or suppressed across the north, east, and south.

The ratio of Russia’s use of ballistic missiles with 480 kg warheads to cruise missiles has increased in 2025 compared to previous years. Additionally, the Russians are refining their deployment methods for Iskander-M systems, which are capable of destroying residential buildings, making it more difficult for Patriot systems to intercept them, according to RBC-Ukraine.

The missile subtly changes course while the battery tries to keep up automatically

This challenge is compounded by the fact that the Iskander-M missile can make minor course adjustments as it approaches its target.

As Yurii Ihnat, Head of Communications for the Air Force Command, has noted that the Patriot system intercepts ballistic missiles automatically, which makes it harder to determine the precise moment to engage a maneuvering missile.

Ballistic missiles make sharp trajectory changes

Russian occupiers have also begun using Iskander-M more frequently and from multiple directions, often combining them with other tools, such as drones and cruise missiles.

“This, in turn, makes them even harder to intercept. A Patriot battery during an attack can only 'look' in one direction. It cannot engage targets 360 degrees around it,” the military official added.

Despite these challenges, Patriot systems continue to operate effectively, achieving confirmed interceptions of both Iskanders and Kinzhal missiles.

Germany has provided Ukraine with additional US-made Patriot air defense systems, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday, hailing the move as a vital step in shielding Ukrainian cities from Russian missile and drone attacks.

In recent months, Russia has sharply intensified its aerial campaign against Ukraine, launching near-daily waves of missiles and drones targeting energy infrastructure, industrial facilities, and residential areas. The renewed strikes have aimed to cripple Ukraine’s power grid ahead of winter and exhaust its air defense resources.

“We have strengthened the ‘Patriot’ component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X, expressing gratitude to Germany and personally to Chancellor Friedrich Merz for “this joint step to protect human lives from Russian terror.”

Zelenskyy said the delivery followed weeks of preparation and coordination, calling it a significant implementation of earlier agreements between Kyiv and Berlin. “For some time, we have been preparing this reinforcement of our air defense, and now the agreements reached have been implemented,” he said.

The Patriot system is among the most advanced air defense platforms in Ukraine’s arsenal, capable of intercepting ballistic and cruise missiles. Germany has already supplied several Patriot batteries to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, and has led European efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s protection against intensified Russian strikes.

In August 2025, Germany coordinated a multinational effort with Norway, Denmark, and Lithuania to finance two Patriot systems for Ukraine. 

Zelenskyy described Russian air assaults as President Vladimir Putin’s “main stake in this war,” saying Moscow uses terror to make up for its failures on the battlefield. 

“Every strengthening of our air defense literally brings us closer to the end of the war,” he said, adding that Ukraine’s growing capabilities would enhance not only national security but also the safety of its European partners.

“Our security is indivisible - which means our air defense must protect all of us,” the president said.

He also noted that talks on further joint steps are ongoing “both at the governmental level and directly with the manufacturers of the necessary systems,” hinting at additional air defense deliveries to come.

Russia has started launching jet-powered guided bombs with jet engines against Ukrainian cities deeper behind the lines. According to Yurii Ihnat, head of the communications department of Ukraine’s Air Force Command, these weapons have recently appeared over Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Poltava oblasts. Speaking on Suspilne, Ihnat said the bombs are being used in isolated cases as Russia checks how effectively Ukraine’s air defense can react.

Ihnat explained that the jet-powered bombs are launched from Su-34 aircraft and share flight parameters with cruise missiles, allowing Ukrainian air defense to target them. On 24 October, Air Command “South” confirmed the interception of two long-range guided bombs, while a third fell in an open field without causing damage. 

Ihnat urged Ukrainians not to panic, noting that the new bombs do not yet pose a major threat. He said Russia is experimenting with many aerial weapons, but Ukraine, together with international partners, continues improving its own defense technology.

Regional authorities in Odesa described the attack as a serious new challenge. Odesa Oblast head Oleh Kiper said such strikes present significant danger to civilians and infrastructure. Still, Ukraine’s forces report no casualties or major destruction from the latest incidents.

Russia expands range and production of longer range guided bombs

Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) earlier said that Russia has started serial production of upgraded guided bombs with unified planning and correction modules, known as the Grom-1 and Grom-2. Their strike range reaches 150–200 km.

On 24 October, Russian forces used jet-powered guided bombs against Odesa Oblast for the first time.

Before the Odesa strike, Russia had already used similar weapons in attacks on Mykolaiv on 16 October and on Lozova in Kharkiv Oblast on 18 October. The latter bomb reportedly traveled about 130 km. Ukrainian officials see these strikes as part of Moscow’s efforts to refine new munitions for long-range precision attacks.