Russia launched another “massive” attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure on Thursday, leaving more than 1 million homes without power, Ukrainian officials said.
Thursday's attack, which involved more than 200 missiles and drones, was the second attack on Ukraine's power grid in less than two weeks.
“Attacks on energy facilities are occurring all over Ukraine,” Energy Minister Herman Khrushchenko said on Facebook. It added that emergency power outages were implemented across the country.
The affected areas include western Ukraine's Lviv region, the northwestern Rivne region, the bordering Volyn region and the western Ivano-Frankivsk region, according to the Associated Press.
Russia launches record number of drones in new attack
A Russian Air Force Su-34 bomber drops a bomb on a Ukrainian position at an undisclosed location. (Photo from the Russian Ministry of Defense press service, via AP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the Kalibr cruise missile, which is equipped with a cluster munition that fires numerous small bombs over a wide area, struck civilian targets. He described the attack as an “insidious escalation.”
President Zelenskiy called on Western countries to accelerate the deployment of promised air defense weapons in response to the attack.
“All these attacks prove that air defense systems are needed now in Ukraine. Air defense systems save lives, not storage bases,” President Zelensky said on Telegram. spoke.
A Russian Air Force pilot flew a Su-34 bomber over an undisclosed location in Ukraine. (Photo from the Russian Ministry of Defense press service, via AP)
Head of the Ukrainian President's Office Andriy Yermak accused Russia of stockpiling missiles with the aim of waging war during the winter. He also said Russia was “helped by crazy allies, including North Korea.”
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It is not uncommon for Russia to attack Ukraine during the dead of winter to deny civilians heating and drinking water.
The attack also aims to destroy Ukraine's production of missiles, drones, armored vehicles and other military assets.
Emergency power measures were implemented across Ukraine on Thursday following the Russian attack. (Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images)
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In nearly three years of war, Russia has destroyed nearly half of Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
