Zelensky warns of new Russian strikes as EU approves emergency energy support for Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia was concentrating attacks on energy infrastructure in selected Ukrainian regions and warned that the ballistic threat remained very serious. The European Commission approved additional emergency energy support for Ukraine, while Russian strikes continued to disrupt electricity and complicate recovery work.
Key points
- Russia has repeatedly targeted power networks, substations and other infrastructure in selected Ukrainian regions, Zelensky said on November 15.
- Since September, 131 strikes were recorded in Dnipropetrovsk region, 125 in Kyiv region, and more than 100 each in Zhytomyr and Sumy regions.
- Electricity supplies in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk were particularly disrupted, although some power had been restored and repair work continued.
- The European Commission approved additional emergency energy support for Ukraine, including generators, other equipment and financing.
- The EU said it would provide 500 generators from the rescEU reserve, 200 buses and four pontoon bridges from Norway.
- Zelensky said intelligence had information that Russia was preparing new attacks, but he did not specify a likely attack time.
- Patriot and NASAMS missiles were identified as priorities for partner support and Ukraine’s air defence.
- Zelensky said Russia had suffered more than 50,000 personnel losses, killed or wounded, in October.
Why it matters
Repeated targeted strikes on regional energy infrastructure are disrupting electricity and creating sustained workloads for repair crews, energy workers, utility services and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. Intelligence about preparations for further attacks increases the risk of another escalation. The EU’s emergency package is intended to replace damaged equipment, support affected communities and maintain electricity stability, while missiles for Patriot and NASAMS remain key priorities for Ukraine’s air defence.
What happened
In his November 15 address, Zelensky said Russia was selecting individual regions and concentrating strikes on their networks, substations and other infrastructure over several consecutive days. Dnipropetrovsk region recorded the most strikes since September, with 131, followed by Kyiv region with 125; Zhytomyr and Sumy regions each recorded more than 100. The greatest recovery workload was concentrated in those four regions, while Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk faced especially difficult electricity supplies and numerous outages. Some electricity had been restored in the latter two regions, but substantial work remained. Air alerts and new attacks continued to hinder repair crews. The European Commission approved additional emergency energy support following Zelensky’s agreement with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It includes generators, other equipment and financing for cities and communities in the greatest difficulty.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian reporting emphasizes the concentration of Russian strikes on regional energy networks and substations, the resulting outages and the burden on repair crews, utility services and Ukraine’s State Emergency Service. The coverage also foregrounds the intelligence warning about new Russian attacks, the European Commission’s emergency assistance and the need to supply missiles for Patriot and NASAMS.
How international sources describe it
The supplied coverage is entirely Ukrainian, so it does not provide a direct Ukrainian-versus-international framing. The European Commission’s package and the rescEU mechanism are presented as international assistance intended to strengthen Ukraine before winter and in response to attacks on critical infrastructure.
Where reporting differs
Estimates of the share of Russian oil-refining capacity disrupted by Ukrainian strikes differ substantially. Zelensky cited more than 55%, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry reported 51% on October 4, and Reuters sources cited about 30% as of November 10.
Background
The Russian strikes have produced a concentrated recovery workload in Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Zhytomyr and Sumy regions. Emergency outages and repeated damage to energy networks have made restoration more difficult, particularly as new alerts and strikes interrupt repair work. The EU is mobilising additional resources through rescEU before winter and in response to attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. Ukrainian officials have also reported that long-range strikes have significantly affected Russian oil-refining capacity, although estimates vary.