(Updated throughout with details, statements by Vladimir Putin and Volodimir Zelensky)
by Anastasiia Malenko and Olena Harmash
Russia carried out a major attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure on Thursday, the second this month, depriving more than a million people of electricity in the west, south and center of the country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow had bombarded Ukraine with 90 missiles and 100 drones in response to Ukrainian strikes by US ATACMS missiles on its territory, adding that its military was targeting targets that could include “decision-making centers ” in Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky, for his part, said that Russia had used cluster munitions in these attacks, which he called a “despicable escalation.”
According to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, material damage was reported in nine regions of the country.
This attack reinforces fears of power cuts during the winter months, when temperatures hover around freezing in Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian authorities, Thursday's attack is the 11th major attack on the Ukrainian energy system since March.
Russia knocked out about half of Ukraine's available generating capacity during the war, damaged the distribution system and forced authorities to impose lengthy power cuts.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Kyiv shot down 79 Russian missiles and 35 drones. She said 62 drones were “lost”, which was likely the result of electronic warfare measures.
An energy sector source said Ukraine had disconnected several nuclear power generation units from the grid following the Russian attack.
The capital Kyiv was targeted, but any missiles or drones were shot down, officials said.
“PUTIN DOES NOT WANT PEACE”
These latest strikes come at a time when Russia is making major advances on the front lines in eastern Ukraine.
“Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want peace. We must coerce him into peace by force,” Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said, reiterating Kyiv's call for more defense capabilities from its allies aerial and long-range.
Maksym Kozytskyi, governor of the Lviv region, on the border with Poland, said Russian strikes knocked out power to around 523,000 people on Thursday.
Regional authorities said they were turning on generators to provide heat and water to hospitals, schools and other essential facilities.
The sound of generators was also heard in the capital, with many small and medium-sized Ukrainian businesses relying on these alternative means for their power supply in the event of a power outage.
(French version Camille Raynaud and Diana Mandiá)
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