Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed on Thursday that Russia launched more than 40 missiles and 40 drones overnight, targeting critical infrastructure across Ukraine and hitting the city of Kharkiv once again.
Zelensky’s announcement highlighted the severity of the attacks, emphasizing that some missiles and drones were successfully intercepted, but not all. Kharkiv, in northeastern Ukraine, has faced repeated Russian assaults in recent weeks.
The strikes extended beyond Kharkiv, with infrastructure facilities in Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa in the south, and Lviv near the Polish border also targeted by Russian forces.
Zelensky condemned the attacks as Russia’s ongoing aggression against critical infrastructure, calling for increased support from Ukraine’s Western allies, specifically urging for more air defense systems.
Ukraine’s Interior Minister Igor Klymenko reported widespread damage and deployed hundreds of rescuers to affected areas following the “massive shelling” that struck multiple regions.
Despite the extensive assaults, there were no reported deaths or injuries from the latest attack. However, parts of Kharkiv experienced power outages, raising concerns about energy supply disruptions.
In the Zaporizhzhia region, Governor Ivan Fedorov confirmed early morning explosions, while Lviv’s regional head, Maksym Kozytsky, reported fires following missile strikes on gas distribution and electric substation facilities.
Meanwhile, Russia claimed to have destroyed 12 Ukrainian drones overnight, targeting various regions including Mordovia, Kursk, Tambov, Belgorod, Bryansk, and Lipetsk.
