Russia Launches Massive Missile And Drone Barrage On Ukraine, Killing Two And Damaging Power Plants | World News

Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack across Ukraine, hitting energy facilities and residential areas, killing at least two people, injuring scores of others, including children, and causing widespread power outages in many regions, France 24 reported.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement on social media that Russian forces targeted civilians and energy infrastructure in nine regions, including the capital Kiev.

“We trust that America, Europe and the G7 countries will not ignore Moscow’s intention to destroy everything,” Zelensky said, urging Western allies to impose more sanctions on Russia to stop its ongoing invasion.

DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, confirmed that many power plants were damaged. “This is a bad blow to our efforts to keep energy flowing this winter,” said Maxim Timchenko, the company’s CEO.

Authorities in the western region of Lviv, which borders NATO and EU member Poland, reported that two energy facilities were hit. Ukraine’s energy ministry said a “significant number of consumers” were left without electricity but did not give exact figures.

The latest Russian attack consisted of 52 missiles and 653 drones, of which 623 captured aerial targets. The dam is one of the biggest attacks on Ukraine’s energy network this year, France 24 reported, citing the Ukrainian air force.

Local authorities confirmed two people were killed and 17 others, including six children, were injured in the southeastern city of Zaporizhia.

Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed responsibility for the “major” attack, stating that it targeted Ukraine’s “military-industrial facilities, energy infrastructure and air bases.” Additionally, 170 Ukrainian drones were allegedly shot down during the night, 48 in the Bryansk region and 9 near Moscow.

According to France 24, Russia announced that its troops captured two villages, Sadove in the Kharkiv region, which Moscow claims as its own territory, and Krasnogirske in the Zaporizhzhia region.

The Kremlin has repeatedly hit Ukrainian power grids during the winter months since the start of its full-scale invasion in February 2022, forcing Kiev to ration power and rely on energy imports.

Ukraine is increasingly retaliating against attacks on Russian oil refineries and energy facilities. Diplomatic progress has stalled despite efforts to broker a peace deal since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.