Ukraine continues to demand more weapons as Russia seeks to crush industry and resistance.
Russia fired more than 70 missiles and drones overnight in one of its biggest attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
According to authorities, the attack on Tuesday evening was aimed at facilities in Kiev and six other cities. Moscow continues to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in hopes of dampening industry and public willingness to resist the invasion.
Authorities said Russia fired more than 50 missiles and 20 Iranian-made “Shahed” drones – long-range unmanned vehicles with built-in warheads.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the “massive rocket attack,” which also reportedly damaged homes and the railway network.
The targets included Lviv, Zaporizhia and parts of southern and western Ukraine. Three people were injured in the attack, including an eight-year-old girl.
There were power outages in nine Ukrainian regions on Wednesday morning following the strikes. Grid operator Ukrenergo warned that there would be power outages across the country on Wednesday evening.
“The enemy has not given up his plans to deprive Ukrainians of light,” said Energy Minister German Galushchenko.
Analysts say Moscow has seized control of Ukraine’s power plants to hamper the production of weapons for the military and weaken public morale.
On the day of remembrance and victory over Nazism, Nazi Putin launched a massive missile attack on Ukraine on World War II Day.
Over 50 missiles and more than 20 Shahed drones targeted infrastructure in Lviv, Vinnytsia, Kiev, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhia and Ivano-Frankivsk… pic.twitter.com/f2yN0gH8Og
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Volodymyr Zelensky (@ZelenskyyUa) May 8, 2024
The attack came before Victory Day in Europe. May 8th marks Germany’s surrender in World War II.
Russia celebrates Victory Day on May 9, which marks the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Ukraine postponed its celebration to May 8 last year.
“To commemorate the victory over Nazism, Nazi Putin launched a massive missile attack on Ukraine on the day of World War II,” President Zelensky said in a post on X.
Desperately looking for patriots
Ukraine is desperately waiting for arms deliveries from Western allies and warns that its defense capabilities are running low. Both the USA and the European Union have committed to new aid packages in recent months.
However, Kiev continues to advocate for more air defense systems, such as the US-built Patriot, which intercepts drones and missiles.
Washington has promised to deliver more Patriot systems as well as more munitions for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, or NASAMS, defense systems, which it will deliver in 2022.
Meanwhile, Russia is trying to bomb the country as its ground forces try to extend advances on the front in eastern Ukraine. According to reports, the Moscow military is not only targeting energy facilities, but is also sending more and more missiles and drones to weaken Ukraine’s air defenses.
Ukrainian energy companies have all but exhausted their finances, equipment and spare parts trying to repair the damage Russia has already done. The country’s power plants urgently need specialized equipment that Ukraine can no longer produce at a sufficient speed and in sufficient quantities.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said earlier this month that half of the country’s energy system had been damaged by Russian attacks.
DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private power utility, said it had lost 80 percent of its power generation capacity in nearly 180 airstrikes since Russia’s invasion began in 2022.