Three dead after Russia launches ‘massive’ attack across Ukraine

Russia launched a “massive” attack on several Ukrainian cities on Monday night, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, a day after warning of attacks over the Christmas period.

According to Ukrainian officials, at least three people, including a four-year-old child, were killed, while the energy infrastructure was also targeted, leaving many regions without electricity.

According to Ukraine, Russia launched more than 600 drones and 30 missiles.

Zelensky said that in the run-up to Christmas, “people just want to be with their families, at home and safe” and said the attacks sent “an extremely clear signal about Russia’s priorities” despite ongoing peace talks.

He added: “Putin still cannot accept that he needs to stop killing. This means the world is not putting enough pressure on Russia.”

Zelensky had previously warned that it was in the Kremlin’s “nature” to “launch major attacks” during the festive period.

Confirming the death of a child in the central Zhytomyr region, local official Vitaly Bunechko said: “He was taken to hospital, doctors fought for his life but in the end they could not save him.” He stated that 5 people were injured in the attack.

Meanwhile, according to the Ukrainian state emergency service, a 76-year-old woman died and three people were injured after a house was hit in the Kiev region.

Regional government head Serhiy Tyurin said that a 72-year-old man died in the attack in Khmelnytskyy in western Ukraine.

Polish warplanes took action in response to missiles and drones targeting Western Ukraine.

Russia’s defense ministry said it targeted energy facilities and other transportation infrastructure, according to Russian state news agency Tass.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Ukraine hit a petrochemical facility in Stravropol, southern Russia.

In the videos shared on the internet by Russian media channels, huge flames can be seen rising from where the facility is located.

Regional governor Vladimir Vladimirov said that a Ukrainian drone crashed into the facility and caused a fire. While there was no loss of life in the incident, no residences were damaged.

With temperatures expected to drop to -7C on Wednesday, Ukraine’s energy operator warned of emergency power outages “in all regions” and urged people to use energy “sparingly”.

Acting energy minister Artem Nekrasov said it was the ninth major attack on Ukraine’s energy system this year and that supplies in Rivne, Ternopil and Khmelnytsky regions were “almost completely” lost.

Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Merezhko told the BBC World Service that some areas could be without electricity “for days”.

The main focus of Russia’s recent attacks southern port city of OdessaThis came after Vladimir Putin threatened to cut off Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea.

The Russian president made the threat in retaliation for Ukraine’s drone attacks on tankers belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet,” that is, well-moving ships, including oil, under Western sanctions.

The attack on Tuesday morning disrupted a period of relative calm in the capital Kiev, where it had been weeks since Shahed had seen drones flying low.

Many in Ukraine’s capital suspect the latest attack is linked to Monday’s incident Killing of a high-ranking Russian general after a car bomb exploded in Moscow.

Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, head of the operational training department of the armed forces, died in the explosion that Russia blamed on Ukraine. Kyiv did not comment.

Also comes after Latest round of US-led diplomatic talks in MiamiEnvoys from Washington and Kiev are preparing detailed proposals to end the war.

According to Zelensky, the United States had offered a Christmas ceasefire, but Russia rejected the idea.

Zelensky said he received a progress report on the talks on Tuesday morning and that “several draft documents have been prepared,” including a basic framework for ending the war, future security guarantees for Ukraine and the country’s post-war recovery.

Putin will also be briefed on recent talks with Washington by his envoy Kirill Dmitriev on Tuesday.