In a devastating escalation of hostilities, Russian drone and missile strikes early Friday inflicted significant damage across Ukraine, leaving at least 20 people wounded and causing widespread power outages. A child was tragically killed in separate attacks in the southeastern region, underscoring the grim toll of the ongoing conflict. In Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, rescue teams worked tirelessly to evacuate over 20 individuals from a 17-story apartment building engulfed in flames, with five requiring hospitalization. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks, accusing Moscow of targeting civilian infrastructure in retaliation for its battlefield setbacks. ‘They can show nothing on the battlefield. All they can do is attack our power sector and our cities,’ Zelenskyy stated. The strikes, described by Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko as ‘one of the largest concentrated strikes’ against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, disrupted power in Kyiv and multiple regions, including Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed the attacks targeted energy facilities supplying Ukraine’s military, utilizing Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and strike drones. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting or jamming 405 drones and 15 missiles out of a barrage of 465 drones and 32 missiles. The relentless assault on Ukraine’s power grid, a recurring tactic by Russia ahead of winter, aims to undermine public morale. Zelenskyy, buoyed by recent diplomatic progress in the Middle East, called for enhanced international support, including advanced weaponry, to bolster Ukraine’s defenses and counter Russian aggression.
Russian strikes wound at least 20 in Ukraine’s capital as child is killed in separate attack
