Russian forces launched the most intense wave of missile attacks on Ukraine so far this year in the early hours of Tuesday, killing at least four people and injuring several others, while triggering emergency power cuts in parts of Kyiv following damage to critical infrastructure.
Ukraine’s national grid operator, Ukrenergo, confirmed that emergency electricity restrictions were imposed in the capital after what the head of Kyiv’s military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, described as a brief but intense missile assault on the city.
The private energy company DTEK said the attack caused significant damage to equipment at one of its thermal power plants, further straining Ukraine’s already fragile power system.
Since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with missiles and drones, particularly during winter, in an effort to disrupt electricity and heating supplies as Ukrainian air defences struggle to intercept sustained waves of strikes.
Ukrainian Telegram-based monitoring channels reported that around 20 ballistic missiles were launched within approximately one hour overnight, describing the barrage as the most sustained attack of the year so far. Reuters said it could not independently verify the reports.
Ukraine’s armed forces had not immediately commented on the full scale of the strikes, while there was no response from Russia.
Also Read:Â Russia Fires Hypersonic Oreshnik Missile At Ukraine
In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, about 30 kilometres from the Russian border, Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said four people were killed in a strike on the outskirts of the city, while six others were injured.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said the Kharkiv attack hit a postal terminal, destroying buildings and triggering multiple fires across an area of about 500 square metres. Rescuers pulled 30 people to safety, including two from beneath the rubble.
In the southern port city of Odesa, five people were injured in overnight attacks that sparked fires at an unused new building, a fitness centre and a vocational school, the emergency service said.
Meanwhile, in the central industrial city of Kryvyi Rih, two people were injured after Russian strikes damaged civilian infrastructure, homes and gas pipelines, according to the regional governor.
