Russia’s overnight air attack on Ukraine killed four and damaged energy infrastructure, with Zelenskiy warning Moscow seeks to exploit Middle East conflict.
KYIV: Russia launched a massive overnight air assault on Ukraine, killing at least four people and damaging energy infrastructure across five regions. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the main target was energy facilities in the Kyiv region.
The attack involved around 430 drones and 68 missiles, most of which were downed by air defences. Zelenskiy stated the Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Mykolaiv regions were also targeted.
“Russia will try to exploit the war in the Middle East to cause even greater destruction here in Europe, in Ukraine,” Zelenskiy wrote on social media platform X. He urged Kyiv’s allies to boost production of critical air-defence weapons.
The four fatalities occurred in the Kyiv region, where 15 people were also wounded. Regional military administration chief Mykola Kalashnyk reported damage in four districts.
Residential buildings, schools, and businesses were also damaged in the strikes. Russia has carried out regular air strikes on Ukrainian towns and cities behind the front line throughout the war.
Ukraine’s energy ministry said consumers in six regions were without power following the overnight strikes and shelling of front-line areas. The attack prompted NATO member Poland to scramble jets to protect its airspace.
Warsaw’s military said no violations were observed.
