Ukraine suffered another deadly wave of attacks on Saturday as Russia launched missile and drone strikes targeting energy infrastructure and civilian areas, killing five people and causing extensive damage across multiple regions, Ukrainian officials reported.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the main targets included facilities outside the capital, Kyiv, but residential buildings, schools, and businesses were also hit. Strikes were reported in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Mykolaiv areas.
According to Zelenskiy, the attacks involved approximately 430 drones and 68 missiles, the majority of which were intercepted by Ukraine’s air-defence systems.
The governor of the southeastern Zaporizhzhia, Ivan Fedorov, reported that Russian-guided bombs struck a residential area in the city of Zaporizhzhia, killing one person and wounding three others. Images posted online showed buildings reduced to rubble.
“Russia will try to exploit the war in the Middle East to cause even greater destruction here in Europe, in Ukraine,” Zelenskiy wrote on X, highlighting concerns that the international focus on the Iran conflict may limit attention and aid to Ukraine. He reiterated urgent calls for Kyiv’s partners to supply additional air-defence weapons, noting that stocks are dwindling as U.S. and Gulf allies contend with Iranian strikes.
The strikes are part of Russia’s ongoing winter campaign, which has left swathes of Ukrainian cities without power or heating. Moscow’s forces continue to press offensives in the east, aiming to secure additional territory while Ukraine retaliates with long-range attacks on Russian strategic infrastructure, including oil depots and refineries.
Ukraine’s Energy Ministry reported that six regions were left without electricity following the overnight strikes and artillery fire along frontline areas. Local resident Natalia Fetko, 57, whose building was damaged in the attacks, said: “There’s no way Russia will stop. Nothing is enough for them.”
Regional military administrator Mykola Kalashnyk said four people were killed in Kyiv region, with 15 others injured and damage recorded across four districts.
The attacks also prompted NATO member Poland to scramble fighter jets to monitor its airspace, although no violations were reported.
Meanwhile, Moldova condemned what it said was a Russian drone intrusion into its border airspace, warning that such actions threaten regional security and endanger civilians
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