ReutersRussia has launched a major attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, with authorities saying it was the 12th major attack on an energy facility this year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said 93 missiles and more than 200 drones were used, but 81 of the missiles were shot down.
The attack targeted facilities in western Ukraine and damaged energy facilities in several regions, some severely. Ivano-Frankivsk authorities said it was the worst attack yet on the region.
The Russian government said the attack was in retaliation for Ukraine’s attack on a military air base in southwestern Russia using U.S.-made missiles.
US President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday spoke out “very vehemently” against American missiles targeting Russian sites, calling them “insane” in an interview with Time magazine to commemorate being named Person of the Year. He said that he was branded with.
“We are only escalating this war and making it worse,” he said.
On Friday, the Kremlin said Trump’s comments were “completely consistent” with the Russian government’s position.
“It’s impressive for us,” Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “It’s clear that President Trump understands exactly what is escalating the situation.”
Trump also told Time magazine that he wants to reach a deal to end the war and that the only way to do that is “not abandon.”
ReutersThe Russian attack took place on the coldest day of Ukraine’s winter so far, with temperatures around -6 degrees Celsius.
In addition to the damage caused in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, energy and infrastructure facilities were also damaged in the Lviv and Ternopil regions.
There was no damage to critical or residential infrastructure in the Kiev region, according to the region’s governor, Ruslan Kravchenko.
Five of the nine nuclear reactors currently operating in Japan are operating at reduced output.
As a result of the attack, the Ukrenergo national power company had to tighten power supply restrictions on Friday, and rolling blackouts were introduced in all regions.
Ukrenergo added that during the day on Friday, electricity will be imported from Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Moldova.
Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In total, Russia has captured and recaptured approximately 2,350 square kilometers (907 square miles) of territory in eastern Ukraine and Russia’s western Kursk region.
