The Washington Post
KYIV — Russia launched dozens of missiles and around 500 attack drones across Ukraine early Sunday, damaging energy infrastructure across the country and killing at least five people, officials said.
The combined assault struck nine regions and left tens of thousands of people without electricity as Russia ramps up its energy war on Ukraine ahead of the coldest and darkest days of the year. Houses, apartment buildings and an oncology center were also damaged. Among the victims was a family of four, including a 15-year-old girl, in the western Lviv region, officials said.
In a Telegram post Sunday, Russia’s Defense Ministry said it used a variety of missiles and drones to target “enterprises of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex and gas-energy infrastructure facilities that supported their operation.” It did not acknowledge civilian deaths or that the attacks struck civilian infrastructure, but said: “The strike objectives have been achieved. All designated targets were hit.”
Russia has in recent days repeatedly assaulted power and gas infrastructure across the country, stirring fears that Ukraine’s heating system will be weakened ahead of winter, which could trigger a new exodus of refugees into the European Union.
