KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia focused Ukraine’s vitality infrastructure in a large-scale missile and drone bombardment in the course of the evening, officers mentioned Friday, hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned talks with the U.S. on ending the 3-year warfare will happen subsequent week.
Ukraine got here underneath a “massive missile and drone” assault, Vitality Minister Herman Halushchenko wrote on Fb. A minimum of 10 folks, together with a toddler, have been injured, authorities mentioned.
“Russia is trying to hurt ordinary Ukrainians by striking energy and gas production facilities, without abandoning its goal of leaving us without light and heat, and causing the greatest harm to ordinary citizens,” Halushchenko wrote.
Ukrainian Emergency Service by way of Related Press
Russia has repeatedly focused Ukraine’s energy grid in the course of the warfare. The assaults have depleted electrical energy technology capability and disrupted crucial heating and water provides. Ukrainian officers have accused Russia of “weaponizing winter” in an effort to erode civilian morale.
Russia fired 67 missiles from air, land and sea and launched 194 strike and decoy drones, Ukraine’s air power mentioned. Their main goal was Ukraine’s pure gasoline extraction amenities, it mentioned.
Ukrainian Emergency Service by way of Related Press
For the primary time, Ukraine deployed French Mirage-2000 warplanes delivered a month in the past to assist repel the assault, in accordance with the air power. Ukraine additionally has Western-supplied F-16 fighter jets to shoot down Russian missiles.
Ukrainian defenses downed 34 missiles and 100 drones, the air power mentioned, whereas as much as 10 missiles didn’t attain their targets and 86 drones have been misplaced from radars, presumably jammed by digital warfare.
Western-supplied air protection methods are essential for Ukraine’s battle however additional U.S. assistance is unsure underneath U.S. President Donald Trump, who says he’s decided to finish the warfare and has paused American navy help for Kyiv as a means of pressuring Zelenskyy to barter.
In his nightly deal with, Zelenskyy mentioned Thursday he would journey to Saudi Arabia on Monday to satisfy the nation’s crown prince, and his staff would keep on to carry talks with U.S. officers.
Zelenskyy welcomed a European Union plan to bolster the continent’s defenses. He expressed hope that among the new spending might be used to strengthen Ukraine’s personal protection trade.
Comply with AP’s protection of the warfare in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
