Russian Missiles Rain Again on Ukraine, Targeting Energy Facilities: Shelters Without Power

Illustration of the impact of the Russian attack on Ukraine. (Wikimedia Commons/State Emergency Service of Ukraine)

JAKARTA - Russia pounded Ukraine with missiles on Friday, destroying energy facilities and knocking out power as people took shelter in shelters across the country, Ukrainian officials said.

The latest several large wave missile attacks since October hit critical infrastructure in areas including the eastern region of Kharkiv, the Odesa Black Sea region, and Vinnytsia in western central Ukraine, regional officials said.

Kharkiv, the central city of Poltava, and parts of Kyiv were left without power and the northern Sumy region was experiencing power outages, they added.

At least three explosions rocked Kyiv, Reuters witnesses in the capital said, and air defense systems were operational across Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's rail operator said several rail lines were left without power.

"They want to destroy us and make us slaves. But we will not give up. We will survive", said Lidiya Vasilieva as she headed for shelter at the Kyiv train station.

"I want the war to end soon. But I am ready to wait as long as necessary", he said.

Meanwhile, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the presidential office, said a residential building had been hit in the center of Kryvyi Rih City, and there may be people trapped under the rubble.

There was no immediate word on casualties and it was unclear what critical infrastructure was affected.

"Don't ignore air raid warnings, stay in shelters", Tymoshenko wrote on messaging app Telegram.

Separately, officials in the Zaporizhzhia region in southeastern Ukraine warned residents to expect more power outages, as engineers try to repair damage caused by the Russian strike.

"We are aware of 15 Russian missile impacts (in the region)", wrote Oleksandr Starukh, the regional governor of Zaporizhzhia, on Telegram.

"We ask residents to prepare for the possibility of temporary restrictions during the restoration of damaged infrastructure", he explained.

Meanwhile, energy company DTEK said it had imposed a blackout in Kyiv to allow repairs.

It is known that Russia, which invaded in February, has been attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure since October, causing repeated power outages across the country in early winter.

Moscow says the attacks on basic infrastructure are militarily legitimate. Meanwhile, Ukraine said an attack meant to cause civilian misery was a war crime.