This week, Russia has stepped up missile strikes across Ukraine. On Monday, it fired two Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles at Kyiv. A barrage of Russian drones attacked Odesa and Mykolayiv regions overnight, causing damage to energy infrastructure. Kharkiv is still facing power shortages after a Russian missile strike on the city late last week. On Wednesday, Russia used two glide bombs to carry out an attack on Kharkiv. A residential neighborhood was hit, leaving one killed and 19 others injured.
Russia’s renewed major attacks are reminiscent of its campaign of strikes last autumn and winter aimed at disrupting Ukraine’s energy system.
Russia is preparing to launch another major offensive in May or June, President Zelenskyi told CBS. He pleaded with the U.S. and other allies for more aid. “We need help now,” Zelenskyi said, stressing that Ukraine needs to prepare to fend off Russia’s renewed aggression.
Russia launches dozens of missiles and drones at Ukraine, targeting energy facilities.
In the early hours of Friday morning, Russia fired a total of 99 aerial targets at Ukraine, including 60 Shahed-136/131 drones, three Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles, two Iskander-M ground launched ballistic missiles, nine Kh-59 air-to-surface guided missiles, four Iskander-K cruise missiles, and 21 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles. Ukraine’s air defenses shot down 58 drones and 26 missiles.
Russia’s major missile and drone strike on Friday damaged hydroelectric and thermal power plants in the central and western parts of the country, Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s national energy operator said. The company added that it had applied emergency power shutdowns in Dnipro region, and rolling outages in Kharkiv region.
Russia has targeted energy facilities in Dnipro, Poltava, and Cherkasy regions, Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said.