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Russia, "massive attacks" on Ukraine's energy facilities

2024-12-13 17:24:31, Kosova & Bota CNA

Russia has carried out major airstrikes against Ukraine's energy facilities, using dozens of cruise missiles and drones. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called the attacks "an act of terrorism".

Western and southwestern Ukraine were hit by these Russian attacks on Friday.

Vital energy facilities were hit in the Transcarpathian region, regional governor Svitlana Onyshchuk said, adding that the attack on the region was the biggest since the start of the war.

The western region of Ternopil reported "negative consequences" from the Russian attacks, without elaborating. In the Lviv region, which is located in the west of the country, Russia attacked energy facilities, regional governor Maksym Kozytskiy said.

Multiple explosions were reported in the southern city of Odesa, while authorities in Kiev said anti-aircraft systems were operating on Friday.

Explosions were also reported in Cherkasy, Khmelnytskyi and Kharkiv regions.

Zelensky said the attack showed that Russian President Vladimir Putin "will not stop at empty words".

Zelensky said that, according to preliminary data, Russia fired 93 missiles, including at least one North Korean missile, 81 of which were shot down. In addition, around 200 drones were also used in these attacks, he said.

Ukraine's national electricity grid operator, Ukrenerho, reported earlier that the Russian attacks had forced it to impose cuts in electricity supplies across the country.

The attacks came as diplomatic efforts to end Europe's biggest war in decades are ramping up.

"This is Putin's 'peace plan': destroy everything." This is how he wants to "negotiate" - by terrorizing millions of people," Zelensky wrote on X after the Russian attacks.

Fighting on the battlefield has intensified as both sides aim to strengthen their positions, as there are signs of a possible ceasefire and peace talks in the coming months.

Russia has stepped up attacks across Ukraine, while making slow but steady advances in the east in recent weeks.

"Putin will not be stopped by empty words - force is what is needed to bring peace. The force that is not afraid of its ability to confront and stop evil," said Zelensky.

Russia's Defense Ministry said in a Telegram message that the attacks were in retaliation for an attack Ukraine carried out on an airport in southwestern Russia using US long-range missiles.

"On December 11, 2024, a missile attack was launched from the territory of Ukraine with six US-made ATACMS missiles against a military airport near the city of Taganrog," the Russian Ministry said.

Russia carried out the attacks a day after NATO chief Mark Rutte warned that Putin wants to "wipe Ukraine off the map" and may then teach the rest of Europe a lesson.

Putin "is trying to destroy our freedom and our way of life," Rutte said.

"Do we need more warnings? We should be deeply concerned. I know I am," said Rutte.

Russia has systematically attacked Ukraine's civilian and energy infrastructure since the beginning of the war, increasing its attacks especially at the beginning of the cold season, causing maximum hardship and long power outages for Ukrainians for the third winter in a row.

According to Ukraine's Ministry of Energy, Russia has carried out more than 1,000 attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities since October 2022.

Ukraine's energy grid has already been attacked 11 times by Russia this year./ REL