The Russian Defense Ministry said the Russian military carried out a large-scale attack on Ukraine’s vital energy infrastructure facilities.
“This morning, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation launched a massive strike with high-precision long-range air and sea weapons, including unmanned aerial vehicles, at critical energy infrastructure facilities that ensure the operation of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine. All identified targets were hit,” a statement issued on Monday said.
The ministry said two electronic warfare stations and four field ammunition depots were destroyed in the past 24 hours, according to news agency Xinhua.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram on Monday that Russia fired more than 100 missiles of different types and about 100 drones, calling it “one of the largest attacks – a joint attack.”
Zelensky said the attack had caused extensive damage to the energy sector, but the facilities were currently being restored.
Ukraine’s state news agency Ukrinform said the explosions hit the Ukrainian capital, the central Ukrainian cities of Dnieper, Kropyvnytskyi, Vinnytsia and Kryvyi Rih, and the eastern city of Kharkiv.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia fired several groups of combat drones and cruise missiles at Ukraine.
Eleven Russian Tu-95MC strategic bombers and six Tu-22M3 long-range supersonic bombers were in the air during the attack.
Ukrainians have been anticipating a major Russian missile attack for some time. The US embassy issued a warning last week that the risk of attack could increase around Ukraine’s Independence Day, which Ukraine celebrated on Saturday.
Serhiy Popko, the head of Kiev’s military administration, wrote on Telegram that about 15 missiles and 15 drones targeting the capital were shot down. Both Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilians.
Both countries say their attacks are aimed at destroying infrastructure vital to the other’s war effort.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
