Russia‘s Massive Attack on Ukraine Kills 10, Injures 86, and Causes Widespread Power Outages
A large-scale Russian missile and drone attack across Ukraine on Saturday resulted in at least 10 deaths and 86 injuries, with emergency power outages reported in multiple regions. Teh attack involved 58 missiles and 51 drones launched at Ukraine, according to the ukrainian Air force.
Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 442 drones, 34 Kh-101 cruise missiles, and seven Kalibr cruise missiles. Despite these efforts, seven missiles and 34 drones struck 14 locations, and debris from downed ordnance fell on six additional sites.
The city of kharkiv was struck by 19 Geran-2 drones around midnight local time, injuring at least 46 people, including two girls aged 9 and 13, reported Governor Oleh Syniehubov.The strikes damaged a high-rise residential building, a hospital, and a school in the Slobidskyi and Osnovianskyi districts.
Further west, a Russian attack on Ternopil killed 10 people and injured 37 others, including 12 children, according to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko. Two nine-story residential buildings were damaged, with destruction extending from the third to the ninth floor in one building.Rescue workers are continuing search-and-recovery operations for people trapped under the debris.
In Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, three people were injured, including two children, according to Governor Svitlana Onyshchuk. Local authorities in Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk also reported attacks on energy and other critical infrastructure.
The Ukrainian energy Ministry stated that Russia is targeting the country’s energy infrastructure, leading to emergency power outages in several regions. A large fire broke out in Lviv,with images shared by Lviv City Council deputy Ihor Zinkevich showing a important plume of smoke.Residents were warned to close their windows due to potential air pollution. Lviv Mayor Andrii Sadovyi later confirmed a warehouse storing tires was hit, with no casualties reported.
President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized Ukraine’s need for additional air defense,stating,”Every brazen attack on normal life (of Ukrainians) shows that the pressure on Russia is still insufficient. Effective sanctions and support for Ukraine can change that.” He added, “Russia must be held accountable for its actions, and we must focus on everything that strengthens us – everything that allows us to shoot down Russian missiles, neutralize Russian drones, and stop their assaults.”
In response to the attack, Poland’s armed forces scrambled fighter jets in its airspace.
Russia has regularly launched large-scale attacks on Ukrainian cities, and has recently intensified attacks on energy infrastructure in an attempt to disrupt Ukraine ahead of winter.
