Russia launched a barrage of more than twenty missiles and hundreds of drones against Ukraine in the early hours of Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and devastating another power facility, further straining Ukraine’s fragile energy resources.
In recent months, Moscow has consistently targeted Ukraine with daily missile and drone strikes aimed at its energy infrastructure, leading to power outages and disrupted heating amid the brutal winter conditions.
An AFP journalist in the eastern Kharkiv region witnessed firefighters battling flames at a postal center and rescue workers assisting survivors by the light of lanterns in freezing weather.
Andriy Pidnebesny, a manager at the postal facility, reported being knocked over by the shockwave and described his unsuccessful attempts to rescue several colleagues trapped beneath the debris.
“You never know what can happen to you. You go out to shop, and you might lose your life. The same goes for going to work or even sleeping at home,” the 31-year-old shared with AFP.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that “several hundred thousand” homes near Kyiv lost power in the wake of the attacks, urging allies to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.
“The international community has the ability to counter this Russian aggression with new aid packages for Ukraine,” Zelensky expressed on social media.
“Russia must realize that cold weather won’t lead to victory in this war,” he added.
In the aftermath of the assault, authorities in Kyiv and the nearby region implemented emergency power cuts, citing that the freezing temperatures were making their efforts more difficult.
AFP reporters in Kyiv observed shoppers navigating a dimly lit grocery store operating on just one or two cash registers powered by a generator.
DTEK, Ukraine’s largest energy provider, reported that Russian forces targeted one of its power plants, marking the eighth such attack since October.
While the specific facility affected was not disclosed, the operator indicated that Russian forces have struck its plants over 220 times since the invasion began in 2022.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Tuesday’s assault involved 25 missiles and 293 drones.
The governor of Kharkiv confirmed the death toll and mentioned that six individuals were injured in the overnight strike near the region’s main city, which shares the same name.
Emergency responders, donned in white helmets, were seen sifting through the still-smoking ruins of a building belonging to the postal company Nova Poshta, as shared in a video by the regional prosecutor’s office.
In Kharkiv, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that a long-range Russian drone hit a children’s medical facility, igniting a fire, though no casualties were reported.
The strikes also impacted other areas, including the southern city of Odesa, where residential buildings, a hospital, and a kindergarten suffered damage, and at least five people were injured during two waves of attacks, according to regional Governor Serhiy Lysak.
The Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged the strikes, claiming they were aimed at Ukrainian military targets.
The recent use of a nuclear-capable Oreshnik ballistic missile by Russia drew condemnation from Kyiv’s allies, including Washington, which labeled it a “dangerous and inexplicable escalation of the conflict.”
On Monday, Moscow stated that the missile struck an aviation repair factory in the Lviv region, claiming it was a response to an alleged Ukrainian attempt to hit one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences—an assertion that Kyiv denies and one which Washington has expressed skepticism about.
In retaliation, Ukraine has escalated its long-range drone attacks on Russian military and energy installations.
On Tuesday, Kyiv announced it had targeted a drone manufacturing facility in the western Rostov region, with the local governor declaring a state of emergency after two enterprises were hit.
