Chernihiv Faces Total Blackout After Major Russian Missile Attack

Sun Dec 07 2025 01:35:02 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Ukrainian city of Chernihiv is in darkness following a significant assault from Russian forces, impacting hundreds of thousands of residents and leaving many without essential services.

Chernihiv, Ukraine, is experiencing a complete blackout due to a massive missile and drone strike by Russia, affecting the power supply and water access for residents. The strikes, which killed four and injured several others, are part of a broader campaign targeting Ukrainian infrastructure. Local officials report a surge in attacks on energy facilities, posing a challenge during the approaching winter. Despite the ongoing assaults, community morale remains high as residents adapt and support each other.

The Ukrainian city of Chernihiv is in total blackout following what the authorities describe as a massive assault by Russian missiles and drones, with hundreds of thousands of people affected.

Across the wider Chernihiv region, four people are reported to have been killed as residential neighbourhoods were struck in the town of Novhorod-Siverskyi.

Ten others were injured, including a 10-year-old girl.

The country's most northerly region is the latest to be hit in an intensifying series of attacks on civilian infrastructure as Russia targets energy supplies, the rail network, homes and businesses in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

I personally heard the drones flying overhead, 55-year-old Oleksandr Babich said. The Chernihiv city resident spoke in matter-of-fact terms about a night filled with the low whine of Iranian-designed Shahed drones, a sound now being increasingly heard far from the war's front lines.

In a raid involving more than 100 Shahed drones and six ballistic missiles, the direct strikes on Chernihiv's electricity generating facilities left the whole city without power. Andriy Podorvan, the deputy head of the Chernihiv Regional Military Administration, told the BBC that it was part of a pattern across much of the country, with attacks on civilian infrastructure significantly increasing in recent months.

The loss of power to water pumping stations has also seriously impacted supplies. Residents have been advised to stock up on bottled water or rely on emergency deliveries. As electrical engineers began to work on restoring power, concerns grow about the sustainability of Ukraine's energy infrastructure amidst ongoing assaults.

Despite the darkness and dire circumstances, local sentiments remain resilient. The hero city of Chernihiv did not give up and is not going to give up. Morale is high, Babich asserted, highlighting community camaraderie and determination during these challenging times.

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