Massive Blackout Hits Russian-Occupied Crimea After Drone Attacks

A massive blackout swept across Russian-occupied Crimea overnight into Saturday, Oct. 24, following reported drone attacks on energy infrastructure, leaving major cities without electricity as key power substations were reportedly knocked out. The Ukrainian OSINT channel Exilenova+ reported that critical substations had been disabled, causing widespread power outages across the peninsula, according to Ukrinform.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The monitoring channel Crimean Wind, citing eyewitnesses, reported simultaneous outages in Sevastopol, Simferopol, Yalta, Feodosia, Dzhankoi, Alushta and Yevpatoria. Residents also reported Russian mobile air defense units firing at unidentified aerial targets near Baherove, close to Kerch, while at least four explosions were heard in Crimea’s Pervomaiske district. Sevastopol’s Kremlin-appointed governor, Mikhail Razvozhayev, confirmed widespread electricity disruptions, attributing them to reported damage to energy infrastructure elsewhere on the peninsula. He said critical facilities had been placed under special operating procedures, while social infrastructure had switched to backup power supplies. Russia has occupied Crimea since 2014, using it as a major military and logistical hub for its war against Ukraine. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.