Russian Missiles Join Ukraine's Energy Facility, President Zelensky: We Must Pass This Winter

President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Wikimedia Commons/Presidentt.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Russia hit Ukraine's energy facility and a large rocket booster factory on Thursday in a new wave of missile attacks that Ukrainian officials criticized as terrorism.

The explosions were heard in parts of the country, including the southern port of Odesa, the capital Kyiv, the city center of Dnipro and the southeastern region of Zaporizhia where officials said two people were killed.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the targets of the attack included the large Pivdenmash defense plant in Dnipro, although he did not provide details of the damage.

Meanwhile, state energy company Naftogaz said gas production facilities in eastern Ukraine had been damaged or destroyed in a "large" missile strike.

Separately, President Volodymyr Zelensky posted video footage, apparently taken from a car camera, showing a driver's journey through Dnipro was disrupted by a massive explosion, sending flames and black smoke rising into the sky.

"Good morning. A peaceful city and people's desire to live a normal life. Going to work, for business. Missile attacks! Terrorist countries really just want to bring as much pain and suffering as possible to Ukrainians," President Zelensky wrote under the tape.

"No matter what terrorists want, no matter what they try to achieve, we have to get through this winter and become stronger in the spring than we are now, even better prepared for the release of our entire region than it is now," he said.

At least 15 people were injured in Dnipro, three people were injured in the northeastern city of Kharkiv and at least one person was injured in Odesa, local officials said. Ukrainian officials also reported heavy fighting in parts of eastern Ukraine.

Mayor Melitopol said some parts of the southeastern city had no heating. Several other areas in Ukraine are already experiencing rotating blackouts to save energy.

The latest attacks prompted Ukrainian officials to make new calls to their international allies to send more air defense systems. They also said Ukraine would stand firm.

"The enemy thought he would weaken our defenses with energy attacks and be able to stab us in the back. This is a naive tactic by a coward loser," Andriy Yermak, head of Zelenskiy, wrote on Telegram.

"They will not succeed. We will destroy them," he said.

Russia is known to have stepped up attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities in recent weeks, in some of the toughest missile attacks since it invaded Ukraine in February.

Moscow rejects terrorism allegations, saying its military action in Ukraine is meant to eliminate dangerous nationalists and protect Russian speakers.