KYIV: Ukrainian authorities reported explosions in at least three cities on Friday, saying Russia launched a major missile attack on energy facilities and infrastructure.
Local authorities reported on social media about explosions in the capital, Kyiv, in the south Kryvyi Rih and northeast of Kharkiv as air raid alarms sounded across the country, warning of a new barrage of Russian strikes that have come on and off since mid-October.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on the Telegram social media application that the city is without electricity. Kharkiv Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported three strikes on critical infrastructure in the city.
Kyrylo Tymoshenkoa senior official of the president Volodymyr Zelensky, reported on a strike against a residential building in Kryvyi Rih, warning on Telegram: “There may be people under the rubble.” Emergency services were on the scene, he said.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported explosions in at least four districts, urging residents to seek shelters.
“The attack on the capital continues,” he wrote on Telegram. Metro services in the capital have been suspended, he said, as the city’s residents flocked inside its deep underground tunnels to seek shelter.
Ukrzaliznytsia, the national rail operator, said power was cut off at a number of stations in the eastern and central regions of Kharkiv, Kirovohrad, Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk, due to damage to energy infrastructure. But the trains continued to operate by switching from electric power to steam power, which had been prepared as a backup.
Such strikes targeting energy infrastructure are part of a new Russian strategy aimed at freezing the Ukrainians into submission after major battlefield casualties by Russian forces in recent months.
But some Ukrainian analysts and leaders say such an assault only strengthened Ukrainian resolve to deal with the Russian invasion that began on February 24.
The previous series of massive Russian airstrikes across the country took place on December 5.
Ukrainian authorities have reported some success in intercepting and shooting down incoming missiles, rockets and armed drones.
Local authorities reported on social media about explosions in the capital, Kyiv, in the south Kryvyi Rih and northeast of Kharkiv as air raid alarms sounded across the country, warning of a new barrage of Russian strikes that have come on and off since mid-October.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on the Telegram social media application that the city is without electricity. Kharkiv Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported three strikes on critical infrastructure in the city.
Kyrylo Tymoshenkoa senior official of the president Volodymyr Zelensky, reported on a strike against a residential building in Kryvyi Rih, warning on Telegram: “There may be people under the rubble.” Emergency services were on the scene, he said.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported explosions in at least four districts, urging residents to seek shelters.
“The attack on the capital continues,” he wrote on Telegram. Metro services in the capital have been suspended, he said, as the city’s residents flocked inside its deep underground tunnels to seek shelter.
Ukrzaliznytsia, the national rail operator, said power was cut off at a number of stations in the eastern and central regions of Kharkiv, Kirovohrad, Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk, due to damage to energy infrastructure. But the trains continued to operate by switching from electric power to steam power, which had been prepared as a backup.
Such strikes targeting energy infrastructure are part of a new Russian strategy aimed at freezing the Ukrainians into submission after major battlefield casualties by Russian forces in recent months.
But some Ukrainian analysts and leaders say such an assault only strengthened Ukrainian resolve to deal with the Russian invasion that began on February 24.
The previous series of massive Russian airstrikes across the country took place on December 5.
Ukrainian authorities have reported some success in intercepting and shooting down incoming missiles, rockets and armed drones.
