Russian strikes on nine Ukrainian regions kill 8 and cut power to 1 million

Russian attacks across nine Ukrainian regions on Friday killed at least eight people, wounded 60, and cut power to over one million, Ukrainian officials reported. Strikes hit Kharkiv, Kramatorsk, and Dnipropetrovsk, plus drone attacks in Volyn and Rivne targeting infrastructure and shopping centres. Ukraine's Energy Ministry said crews restored power to over one million people, though blackouts in Lutsk could last 24 hours. The UN reported civilian casualties in September rose 85 percent from the previous month, with 328 killed and 2,105 wounded. Between January and September 2026, casualties nearly doubled from 2024 levels, with October's first two weeks among the deadliest in years.