Today’s was one of the largest combined attacks: more than a hundred rockets of various types and a hundred ‘shaheed’ drones.
And like most previous Russian attacks, this one is equally cowardly and targets critical civilian infrastructure.” So said the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Telegram launching a new appeal: “America, Britain, France and other partners have the power to help us stop terrorism. Solutions are needed.”
“Most of our regions have been hit, from Kharkiv and Kiev oblasts to Odessa and the western regions. Unfortunately, there are victims” and injuries. “There is a lot of energy damage,” the Ukrainian president explains. “But wherever there is a blackout, restoration work is already underway. Repair teams will work around the clock. Electricity: we will return it. Putin is not fooling himself: he is a sick creature, everyone has understood this for a long time. But it is also clear: he can only do what the world allows him to do.”
The Ukrainian president argues that “the weakness and inadequacy of response decisions fuel terror. And every leader, every one of our partners knows what strong decisions are needed to end this entire war, and to end it rightfully. There can be no long-term restrictions in Ukraine, when terrorists do not have such restrictions. Defenders of life cannot have restrictions on weapons, when Russia uses both its own weapons of all types, and North Korea’s drones and ballistics.”
Meanwhile, the number of deaths from Russian attacks in various Ukrainian regions rises to 4. At least 11 injured. The massive attack was concentrated in western and southern Ukraine and also heavily targeted Kiev. An emergency blackout was introduced in the capital, causing delays and train stops, Rbc-Ukraine reports.
Four Kiev metro stations have been transformed into shelters. At least seven explosions were heard this morning in the skies of Kiev, AFP news agency journalists reported. 15 Ukrainian regions have been “hit by massive Russian attacks,” Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. The governors of the southern regions of Odessa and Zaporizhzhia, as well as the governor of the Kharkiv region (northeast), reported explosions on Telegram and urged residents to take cover.
Energy infrastructure targeted by Russian bombs
Russian forces carried out massive strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure today, the Russian Defense Ministry said, cited by Tass. The ministry added that the strikes were carried out with air- and sea-launched missiles and drones. All designated targets, according to Moscow, were hit. Moscow’s announcement was confirmed by Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda. “The situation is difficult, the consequences of the strikes are being clarified, technicians are working,” Galushchenko said. Earlier, transmission system operator Ukrenergo introduced emergency power outages.
Moscow: “Ukrainian drones over Saratov region, 4 injured”
Four civilians were injured, including a woman who was hospitalized in serious condition, in drone strikes launched by Ukrainian forces in the southern Russian region of Saratov this morning, Russian health officials said, as reported by Tass. Earlier, the governor of the Saratov region, Roman Busargin, announced that the woman was injured in the city of the same name. Russian online media Mash reported that Ukrainian drones also attacked the city of Engels in the same region today, in addition to the city of Saratov. According to Mash, the strikes were carried out with Bober drones, which have a flight range of 800 kilometers and a maximum speed of 150 km/h. The drones hit two skyscrapers in the two cities. Delays were reported at Saratov Gagarin International Airport following the drone strike, RIA Novosti news agency wrote, citing the airport’s press service. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that air defense systems shot down 20 Ukrainian drones last night, including nine over the Saratov region. In addition, Russian air defenses shot down a Ukrainian drone over the country this morning, the Defense Ministry reported on Telegram. The unmanned aircraft was destroyed around 11:00 local time (10:00 in Italy) while flying over the Bryansk region.