President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that nighttime Russian drone and missile attacks struck various locations in Ukraine, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least four individuals. The attacks, which included 81 drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, also left 16 people injured. While the specific locations of the fatalities were not disclosed, reports indicate that two individuals lost their lives in a strike on a residential building in Kryvyi Rih.
Zelenskyy vowed that Ukraine would respond to these attacks and emphasized that crimes against humanity must not go unpunished. In the aftermath of the onslaught, the Kyiv region experienced multiple air alerts during the night, with air defenses successfully intercepting all drones and missiles. However, the falling debris triggered forest fires in the area.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal condemned the targeting of energy infrastructure by Russian forces, labeling them as 'terrorists.' He called on Ukraine's allies to provide long-range weapons and authorization to use them on Russian targets. President Joe Biden expressed outrage over the attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and announced the prioritization of U.S. air defense exports to support Ukraine. The U.S. is also sending energy equipment to aid in repairing and fortifying Ukraine's energy grid.
The Russian Defense Ministry defended the attacks, stating that they targeted critical energy infrastructure facilities supporting Ukraine's military-industrial complex. Russian officials reported intercepting four Ukrainian missiles over the Kursk region, where clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces have escalated. Concerns have been raised about the safety of a nuclear power plant in the region, prompting the International Atomic Energy Agency to dispatch a team for inspection.
As tensions continue to escalate between Russia and Ukraine, the international community closely monitors the situation for further developments.
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