Zelensky reports strikes on more than 15 Ukrainian energy facilities

Russian strikes hit more than 15 electricity-generation and transmission facilities across Ukraine overnight before October 17, Volodymyr Zelensky said. He described it as one of the largest attacks on the country's energy system.

Ukraine's president said electricity supplies were under the greatest strain in Lutsk, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Shepetivka, Slavuta and Netishyn. He also listed the Kharkiv, Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions among the areas affected.

Russia's Defence Ministry reported a strike on a Zhytomyr substation that morning. The ministry said it distributed electricity for defence-industry enterprises.

The previous day, Russian General Staff chief Valery Gerasimov told Vladimir Putin that large-scale strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure had begun. He said they were intended to undermine Ukraine's military and economic capacity.

Emergency repair work is continuing in affected regions, according to Zelensky.