Russia hits Ukraine with the largest missile barrage in weeks – Politico

KYIV – Russia on Thursday launched a major attack on Ukraine using kamikaze drones and a barrage of missiles, the first major attack on Ukraine’s energy and infrastructure in weeks.

Authorities in several regions across Ukraine reported injuries and damage. Authorities reported emergency power outages in several areas. Trains are late all over the country.

Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushenko said in a statement sent to the press that the largest nuclear power plant in Europe – the Zaporizhzhia NPP in the occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia region – was completely cut off from the power grid after the attack.

As a result, officials said, the power plant was disconnected and put into blackout mode for the sixth time since Russia’s full-scale invasion began last February.

“Units 5 and 6 have been cold shut down and 18 diesel generators have started operating to supply the plant’s internal loads,” Enerhoatom, the state atomic energy company, reported. “There is a 10-day supply of fuel to run. The countdown has begun.”

According to their statement, “If the offsite energy source cannot be restored to the station within this time frame, an accident with radiological consequences for the entire world could occur.”

In a press briefing later Thursday, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said the plant could run for 15 days on diesel backups, but warned that this was the “last line of defence.” Experts have previously downplayed the risk of a global nuclear catastrophe at the plant, while urging the international community to act to avert a local catastrophe.

Ukraine, for its part, is sounding the alarm loudly

The Russians are putting the world on the brink of a nuclear catastrophe. Ukrainian Minister Galushenko added that this is the day after negotiations with the United Nations on the disarmament of the plant.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was in Ukraine on Wednesday to discuss ongoing disarmament efforts by the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Shortly after his visit, Russia launched an offensive against energy and civilian infrastructure.

Hits were recorded in Kiev, Lviv, Zhytomyr, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhia, Odessa and Vinnytsia.

The Russians are back to their old scheme – massive missile attacks on Ukraine at night, while people are asleep. Explosions were recorded in most regions – infrastructure facilities and residential areas were hit, ”Mykhailo Podolyak, Advisor to the Chief of the Office of the President of Ukraine, he said in a tweet. “Ukraine is partially without water and electricity.”

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny mentioned that Russia launched 81 missiles of various types during the night: 28 X 101/X-555 missiles; 20 Kalibr cruise missiles, six X-22 missiles, eight aviation missiles, 13 C-300 air defense missiles, and six Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.

Moscow also sent eight Shahed drones. Ukraine shot down 34 cruise missiles and four drones.

Andrei Sadovyi, mayor of Lviv, said in a statement that several people were killed in the town of Zolochiv, Lviv region. Local authorities released a video of several destroyed homes. “They shoot everywhere because they have enemies everywhere,” Sadovyi said.

In Kiev, authorities report that only 40 percent of the population has heating. It is noteworthy that power outages are underway in three areas of the capital.

“Unfortunately, we have information that a Kinzhal hypersonic missile hit the infrastructure object. There is a partial power outage in the capital. In the Svyatoshin region, two people were injured by missile fragments. They are being provided with medical assistance. Said Serhiy Popko, head of the military department in Kiev, the remnants of the missile also damaged cars in the current situation.

This story has been updated.