Russia launched an attack on Ukraine's power grid as widely anticipated by the international community, hitting key facilities in Kiev and other major cities across the country, marking it as one of the largest energy attacks in several months.

Ukrainian officials and national security experts have previously warned that Russia may launch air attacks on its energy infrastructure before the winter season arrives, fearing that the country will face another extremely difficult cold wave at a time when Ukraine's air defense capabilities are severely inadequate.

Officials said on Wednesday that the latest attacks have caused 7 deaths. Ukraine's national power grid operator Ukrenergo has implemented emergency power rationing in Kiev and three other regions. In the coming days, temperatures in the Ukrainian capital are expected to drop below freezing at night.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi stated on Wednesday through Telegram: "Russia has launched a large-scale attack on energy infrastructure."

"Since summer, there hasn't been a single day without the enemy attacking energy infrastructure. However, an attack of this scale and coordinated in nature has not occurred since the end of the last heating season," said Koretskyi. The above content is translated and organized accordingly.

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on Wednesday that Russia used land-based high-precision weapons and attack drones to carry out "significant strikes" against a communication center in Kiev, facilities of Ukraine's energy system, as well as the port infrastructure in Izmail, located in the southwest of Odessa Oblast.

At the end of August, that department stated that it was preparing to bomb Ukraine's energy infrastructure as a response to Russia's attacks on Ukraine's fuel and energy facilities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Russian President Vladimir Putin last week at the United Nations General Assembly that if no agreement could be reached on a ceasefire regarding energy supplies, Kiev would make Russia suffer greatly during the winter.

Ukrainians understand that this winter could be very harsh for us. But in response, we have no other choice but to make Russia suffer as well, Zelenskyy said on September 23rd.

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed last month that Russia and Moscow had agreed to cease attacks on energy facilities, but both countries quickly clarified that no formal agreement had yet been finalized.

Trump previously also urged Zelenskyy to cease attacks on Russian refineries, stating that these attacks "are harming the world," as disruptions in fuel supply continue to support diesel prices in the United States.