Russia carried out rocket attacks across Ukraine last night. It is the first Russian attack of this magnitude in three weeks, international news agencies report. The death toll stands at nine.
Around 5 a.m. Dutch time, reports of explosions came in from various regions. Among the cities targeted are Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa. The Ukrainian military says Russia fired 81 missiles, including 48 cruise missiles. In addition, eight drones have been deployed by the Russians.
The governor of the western Lviv region told the AP news agency that at least five were killed after a rocket hit a flat. Shelling of the southern city of Kherson killed three people after hitting a bus stop where people were waiting.
One person was also killed in the city of Dnipro. Emergency services in Zolotchivsky would be busy pulling people from under the rubble.
Ukrainian President Zelensky says his country has had a rough night. “A Massive Missile Strike Across the Country”. he writes on Telegram. “There were attacks on critical infrastructure and residential buildings. Unfortunately, people were injured and killed.”
Power failure
Power has been lost in some affected areas as power facilities have been hit. Due to shelling, the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant has been cut off from the Ukrainian electricity grid. “Today, the last line of communication between the occupied Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant and the Ukrainian electricity system has been cut off,” Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear power company Energoatom said in a statement.
For the sixth time since the invasion by Russia, the installation now runs on diesel generators. There would be supplies for ten days.
According to the mayor of Kyiv, 15 percent of the city is without electricity and 40 percent without heating. Vitali Klitschko says several explosions have occurred in the southwest of his city.
A spokesman for Ukrainian President Zelensky reported on Twitter that two people were injured in an explosion around Kyiv.
The governor of the northeastern region of Kharkiv says at least 15 Russian missiles have been fired at the city of the same name.
The governor of the Odesa region also reports “large-scale attacks”, which he says have affected homes in addition to energy facilities. The inhabitants are advised to stay in the bomb shelters, because a second attack is expected.
Explosions have also been reported in the central city of Dnipro and Lutsk in the northwest.
