Kyiv, October 7, 2025 — Intense shelling and drone strikes across several Ukrainian regions — notably Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, and Kherson — have once again brought the toll of the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war into sharp focus. Ukrainian authorities reported that at least five civilians were killed and over a dozen injured in a series of coordinated assaults launched overnight between October 5 and 7. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia deployed more than 60 Shahed-type drones and several missiles targeting both civilian and energy infrastructure. “We managed to intercept most of them, but unfortunately, some hit residential areas,” said Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat on Monday.
In Kharkiv Oblast, several missiles struck residential zones in the city’s northern outskirts early Monday morning, setting multiple apartment blocks on fire. Governor Oleh Syniehubov confirmed that two people were killed and several others injured. “Kharkiv woke up to explosions once again. The enemy keeps targeting civilians and critical infrastructure,” he said in a televised briefing. Local rescue services battled flames for hours amid reports of power outages across several districts. The regional administration said more than 15,000 homes were temporarily without electricity following the strikes.
Meanwhile, in Kherson region, artillery and drone fire continued to pound communities along the Dnipro River’s right bank, which Ukraine reclaimed in late 2022. On October 5, one person was confirmed dead and three others injured after Russian shells hit a residential area. “The situation in Kherson remains dire — people live under constant bombardment,” stated Roman Mrochko, head of Kherson’s city military administration. Survivors described moments of terror as rockets tore through homes. “We ran to the basement when the sirens sounded, but the explosions came so close that the walls shook,” said Olena Hrytsenko, a local resident who lost her neighbor in the attack.
In Zaporizhia region, Russian strikes once again raised alarms over the safety of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that on October 6, explosions occurred within 1.25 kilometers of the plant’s perimeter. The facility has been operating on emergency diesel generators for nearly two weeks after losing its main power supply. “The continued shelling near the plant is reckless and unacceptable,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, warning that a single misfire could “trigger a radiological emergency with cross-border consequences.” Ukrainian authorities accused Russian forces of using the area near the plant to stage attacks, a claim Moscow denies.
The humanitarian situation across all three regions continues to worsen as temperatures drop and power infrastructure is increasingly damaged. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that over 70,000 residents in Zaporizhia and Kharkiv remain without electricity, while emergency repairs are hampered by renewed attacks. Hospitals in Kherson and Kharkiv are operating under severe strain. “We are treating civilians, including children, with shrapnel injuries every day,” said Dr. Iryna Kozlova, a surgeon in Kherson. “The number of displaced families keeps growing — and the fear never fades.”
International reaction has been swift but cautious. The European Union condemned Russia’s continued attacks on civilian infrastructure, calling them “a grave breach of international law.” In a joint statement on October 7, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell urged Moscow to “cease indiscriminate strikes and restore respect for human life.” The United States reiterated its support for Ukraine’s defense, while the UN Security Council plans to convene later this week to discuss the escalating humanitarian crisis. As winter approaches, the conflict shows no signs of slowing — and civilians in Ukraine’s embattled south and east continue to pay the highest price.
