Russian strikes on Ukraine kill four, knock out power
In one of the biggest attacks of the New Year so far, Russia hit cities across Ukraine with missiles and drones overnight, killing at least four people and knocking out heat and electricity, exposing millions to dangerous winter cold.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Russia launched nearly 300 unmanned aerial vehicles, 18 ballistic missiles and seven cruise missiles in attacks on eight regions of Ukraine overnight.
The main targets are energy production facilities and substations, Zelenskiy said in a post on the Telegram application.
“Every such attack on life is a reminder that support for Ukraine cannot be stopped. Missiles for air defense systems are needed every day, especially in winter.” Ukrainian air defense units shot down 247 drones and seven missiles, the air force said.
It was also stated in the Telegram application that missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles damaged 24 regions. The Ministry of Energy said emergency power outages were initiated in the capital Kiev, as well as in the Chernihiv, Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions.
DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, said that the attack severely damaged equipment at one of its thermal power plants.
In his nightly video speech, Zelenskiy said emergency teams, hampered by “extraordinary difficulties” and temperatures dropping to -16C in Kiev, remained on duty 24 hours a day to restore heating and electricity.
“It is important that many of our people are working professionally, repairing materials and trying to maintain normal life,” he said.
Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko posted a video on Telegram showing crews repairing pipes. Although the heating is on in most apartments, about 500 residences still need to be upgraded, he said.
Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy system throughout the conflict, arguing that attacks on civilian infrastructure are justified in harming Ukraine’s war effort. Kiev says Moscow’s aim is to inflict pain in order to break the national will.
Ukrainian officials say the fourth winter of the war will be the coldest and darkest yet, with Russian attacks intensifying, years of cumulative damage taking a toll, and weather dangerously cold even for Ukraine’s climate.
Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said that four people lost their lives as a result of a postal terminal being hit by many missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in the city of Kharkiv, which is 30 kilometers away from the Russian border and is frequently targeted.
“We faced a mass attack of Shahid and missiles,” Syniehubov said, referring to Iranian-designed drones.
“More than 30 people were injured. 4 people were killed at the scene.”
Emergency services said at least five people were injured in the southern port city of Odessa as a result of a Russian attack overnight. Fires were reported in an unused new building, a gym and a vocational school.
