Kyiv: While Moscow accused Kiev of launching drone attacks inside Russia, Ukraine warned that there would be another emergency blackout in many regions as it repaired the damage caused by the missile attacks.
After days of anticipation, a new Russian missile barrage hit Ukraine, as previous damage was repaired and emergency blackouts ended.
The latest in a series of attacks targeting vital infrastructure and weeks of cutting off heat and water for many people, the attacks sent parts of Ukraine into a deep freeze with temperatures below zero Celsius (32 Fahrenheit).
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According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, at least four people have been killed, and most of the approximately 70 missiles have been shot down.
In a video address late Monday, he predicted emergency blackouts would be necessary in many areas. "Everything we can do to bring stability will be done."
The US announced it would hold a virtual meeting with oil and gas executives on Thursday to discuss how it could support Ukrainian energy infrastructure, according to a letter seen by Reuters.
Since early October, Moscow has been attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure almost once every week as it has been forced to retreat from some fronts.
At least two people were killed and several homes were destroyed in the Zaporizhzhya region, according to deputy head of the presidential office, Kirylo Tymoshenko.
Two bodies lying next to a damaged car were seen in Reuters video in the village of Novosofivka, about 25 km east of the southern city of Zaporizhia.
"Both of my neighbors were killed," claimed 62-year-old Olha Troshina. He was placed next to the car. He was taking his son and daughter-in-law out of the house.
According to officials, the missiles also targeted the cities of Odessa and Sumy in the north and south, as well as power plants in the central Ukrainian regions of Kyiv and Vinnytsia. According to Zelensky, Kyiv was one of the regions that experienced the most blackouts.
Unlike experiencing emergency blackouts since the massive Russian attacks on November 23, the worst attack on energy infrastructure, Ukraine recently resumed regularly scheduled power outages from Monday.
However, Ukraine's largest private energy company, DTEK, said on Monday that one of its facilities had been disconnected from the power grid due to the Russian attack, in what it said was the 17th such attack at one of its sites in the past few days. There was an attack. Two months.
Of the more than 70 missiles fired by Russia on Monday, 60 were shot down, according to Ukraine's air force.
According to Russia, the purpose of the barrage is to weaken Ukraine's armed forces.
They constitute a war crime, according to Ukraine, because they are clearly directed at civilians. Putin disputes this.
Russia claims to be conducting a "special military operation" in Ukraine to expel nationalists and protect Russian-speaking communities. Moscow has been accused by Ukraine and its allies of starting an unprovoked war to wrest territory from its ally in the West.
On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian drones had attacked two air bases in Ryazan and Saratov in south-central Russia, killing three military personnel and injuring four others. When the drone was shot down, two aircraft were damaged by drone parts.
Ukraine was not specifically held responsible for the attacks. If it were to follow through, these would be the most devastating strikes inside the Russian heartland since Moscow invaded Ukraine on February 24.
According to the New York Times, citing a senior Ukrainian official, the unmanned drone reportedly struck two targets hundreds of miles inside Russia.
According to the newspaper, the drones were launched from Ukrainian territory, and at least two aircraft were damaged or destroyed at one base.
On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that three military personnel had been killed and four others wounded when Ukrainian drones struck two air bases in Ryazan and Saratov in south-central Russia.
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Drone parts were damaged when two aircraft were shot down.
Ukraine was not held responsible for any specific attack. If Moscow were to follow them, they would be the most devastating offensive in Russia's central region since the February 24 invasion of Ukraine.
According to the New York Times, which cited a senior Ukrainian official, the unmanned drone reportedly struck two targets hundreds of miles inside Russia. The newspaper claims that the drones were launched from Ukrainian territory, and that at least two aircraft were damaged or destroyed at a base.
