Russia unleashed a massive missile and drone assault on Ukraine overnight, targeting energy infrastructure and killing at least four people. The attack, which Ukrainian officials described as “terror,” caused power outages in several cities, including Kyiv and Dnipro.
Ukraine’s air force detected dozens of missiles and drones targeting almost all regions of the country. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Russian terrorists had targeted energy infrastructure, causing emergency power cuts to stabilize the system.
The attack came hours after Ukraine’s foreign ministry warned of a significant buildup of Belarusian forces and equipment at their shared border. Kyiv urged Minsk not to make “tragic mistakes” under Moscow’s pressure.
It is not the first time Russia has targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Over two and a half years of war, Russia has repeatedly attempted to plunge Ukraine into darkness and use freezing winter temperatures as a weapon of war.
Ukraine Calls for International Support
Ukrainian officials are calling on their allies to allow them to strike deeper into Russia. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Ukraine needs long-range strikes on all legitimate military targets on Russian territory.
The aerial assault comes two days after a Russian strike on a hotel in the Donetsk region killed a British safety adviser and wounded two journalists.
Residents in Kyiv reported hearing several loud explosions, with some saying they lost power immediately after. “There is nowhere to go and hide,” said Katerina, a 35-year-old resident.
Russia claims it shot down 20 drones launched from Ukraine overnight, including nine over the Saratov region.
Ukrainian forces are occupying a pocket of Russian territory in the border region of Kursk, and Kyiv is carrying out its aerial attacks on targets deep inside Russia.
As the war rages on, Ukrainian emergency services are conducting search and rescue operations among the rubble. Russian ground forces are inching toward the key eastern city of Pokrovsk, which could become the next major battleground.
