Russia has launched at least 76 missiles to hit electricity and water facilities across Ukraine. Russian forces continued their tactic of targeting infrastructure.
Rocket attacks on the morning of the 16th also targeted residential areas throughout Ukraine. The capital Kiev alone was hit by 40 missiles, of which 37 were shot down by the air defense forces. Altogether 60 shots were shot down, Ukrainian military commander-in-chief Zarzhny said on Telegram on social media.
People evacuated in a subway station after an air raid warning (Kiev)
Photographer: Dimitar Dikoff/AFP/Getty Images
Zardiny said today’s attack was “one of the biggest since the all-out invasion began” in February.
Russia’s ninth large-scale rocket attack since October was intended to undermine Ukraine’s will to resist a Russian invasion.
According to Ukrainian air defense spokesman Yury Ifnat, the attack was the first time Russia used Tupolev 95 strategic bombers in the invasion. The aircraft type itself is a turboprop aircraft that has been in operation since the 1950s.
The attack caused blackouts in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, and in Poltava in central Ukraine. More than nine energy facilities, including power plants and substations, were damaged, Energy Minister Harshchenko said. He said that half of the population is still forced to live without electricity.
Deputy head of Ukrainian President Tymoshenko’s office told Telegram there would be temporary disruptions to water and heating supplies, even though temperatures were close to freezing.
The last major attack was on May 5, when Ukraine claimed to have shot down 60 of the 70 missiles fired by Russia.
news-rsf-original-reference paywall">Original title:Russian missile barrage cuts power to Ukrainian cities(extract)
Russian missile barrage cuts power to Ukrainian cities (2)(extract)
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