Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly criticized Russia for its recent barrage on Ukraine, describing the attack as “vile” and revealing that it involved a significant number of missiles and drones. Zelenskyy reported that the assault resulted in casualties, injuries, and extensive damage to Ukraine’s energy sector.
The onslaught, which began in the early hours and continued into the morning, marked one of the most intense attacks by Russia on Ukraine in recent weeks. Russian forces deployed drones, cruise missiles, and hypersonic ballistic Kinzhal missiles across 15 Ukrainian regions, targeting critical civilian infrastructure and causing disruptions in power and water supplies in Kyiv.
Speaking about the impact of the attack, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal emphasized the destruction of energy infrastructure and urged for support from allies in providing long-range weapons to counter Russian aggression. The Ukrainian air force reported multiple groups of Russian drones moving towards various regions of Ukraine, followed by cruise and ballistic missiles targeting energy facilities critical to the country’s military-industrial complex.
The attacks resulted in casualties and injuries across Ukraine, with reports of blackouts and damage to infrastructure in different regions. Local officials confirmed fatalities in several cities, including Kyiv, Lutsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, and Zaporizhzhia. The widespread impact of the attack prompted emergency blackouts by Ukraine’s private energy company, DTEK, as efforts to restore power and aid affected communities intensified.
In response to the escalating conflict, neighboring Poland activated its air defenses, emphasizing the regional implications of the crisis. Amidst the chaos, concerns arose about the safety of a nuclear energy plant in the Kursk region, prompting international scrutiny by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
As tensions between Ukraine and Russia continue to escalate, the international community remains on high alert, monitoring developments and assessing the implications of the conflict. The gravity of the situation underscores the urgent need for diplomacy and decisive action to prevent further loss of life and widespread destruction.