Russia has launched another “massive” missile on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, wiping out the nation’s electricity grid.
According to Ukrainian officials, the Thursday night attack has knocked out power for more than a million households.
Thursday’s strike involved more than 200 missiles and drones.
The attack marks the second on Ukraine’s power grid in less than two weeks.
In a post on Facebook, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said:
“Attacks on energy facilities are happening all over Ukraine.”
He added that emergency power outages have been implemented nationwide.
Areas affected include the Lviv region in western Ukraine, the northwestern Rivne region, the bordering Volyn region, and the western Ivano Frankivsk region, according to The Associated Press.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kalibr cruise missiles with cluster munitions hit civilian targets.
Cluster munition release numerous small bombs over a wide area.
He described the attack as an “insidious escalation.”
Zelensky asked that Western countries accelerate the delivery of promised air defense weaponry in response to the attack.
In a post on Telegram, Zelensky said:
“Each such attack proves that air defense systems are needed now in Ukraine, where they save lives, and not at storage bases.”
Andrii Yermak, head of Ukraine’s presidential office, accused Russia of stockpiling missiles.
Yermak argues that Russia is stockpiling with the intention of waging war during the winter.
He also said Russia “was helped by their crazy allies, including from North Korea.”
It is not uncommon for Russia to attack Ukraine during the bitter winter months.
Such attacks are designed to deny civilians access to heat and drinking water supplies.
The attacks also aim to break down Ukraine’s production of missiles, drones, armored vehicles, and other military assets.
In the nearly three years of war, Russia has destroyed almost half of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
