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Russia has conducted one of its most extensive air assaults on Ukraine to date, according to Ukrainian Air Force Chief Mykola Oleshchuk.
According to a report on BBC, the attack, which began overnight and continued into Monday morning, targeted over half of Ukraine's regions with missiles and drones, resulting in at least seven deaths and dozens of injuries.
The bombardment inflicted severe damage on Ukraine’s power infrastructure, causing widespread blackouts across the country. The entire nation was placed under an air raid alert, with citizens advised to seek shelter.
Russia confirmed it struck Ukraine's energy infrastructure, claiming all designated targets were hit. Oleshchuk reported that Russia launched 127 missiles and 109 drones, of which Ukraine successfully intercepted 102 missiles and 99 drones.
In Kryvyi Rih, a Russian missile hit a civilian infrastructure building, killing one woman and leaving five others missing, said local military administration head Oleksandr Vilkul.
Poland reported an unidentified object entering its airspace during the attack, likely a drone, according to army spokesman Jacek Goryszewski. NATO condemned the breach as "irresponsible and potentially dangerous."
The assault, which targeted energy and civilian infrastructure, comes as Russia aims to undermine Ukrainian morale amid recent Ukrainian advances in the Kursk region. The attack highlighted Russia's ongoing strategy to pressure Ukraine by disrupting essential services.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal noted that 15 regions were affected, with significant damage reported in cities including Kyiv. The power outages disrupted water supplies and affected critical infrastructure.
Russia's Defense Ministry stated the attacks targeted electricity and gas facilities, as well as sites storing Western weapons, causing power outages and disrupting weapon transport.
Ukraine, meanwhile, has been procuring energy from the European Union and implementing planned blackouts to manage the strain on its power grid. President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western allies to expand support, including allowing deeper strikes into Russian territory with Western weapons.
In response, Ukraine attempted an attack on an oil refinery in Yaroslavl, although no damage or casualties were reported. Russia also claimed to have intercepted nine drones over its Saratov region.
[Information sourced from BBC]
