Nightmare as Russian President Vladimir Putin unleashes hell with 650 drones and fifty missiles fired against civilians – causing death-threatening blackouts and killing citizens
Russia last night sent waves of more than 650 drones and fifty missiles into Ukraine causing widespread destruction and devastating blackouts throughout the country. Widespread attacks killed at least two people in Zaporizhzhia and at least 17 serious injuries, including six children who were hurt in the attack amid growing pressure from the US to end the war.
Western communities close to the border with Poland came under attack, prompting Polish warplanes to scramble in case missile strayed across the country limit. The alarming escalation included Kinzhal air-launched missiles, ballistic explosive weapons, Kh-101 cruise missiles and killer “kamikaze” Shahed drones.
Alerts rang throughout Ukraine and air defences were activated in almost all regions, causing injuries, destroyed homes and infrastructure and fires. Drones targeted the capital Kyiv, although no deaths were reported and it is believed Moscow’s forces were targeting civilian ability to stay warm.
The region of Zaporizhzhia suffered hours of sustained strikes from at least 20 drones and eight missiles, with an entire apartment block destroyed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said of the air strikes:
“Many were shot down, but unfortunately, there have been hits.”
The community of Dnipro was attacked by ballistic missiles overnight, with 22 drones shot down over the Dnipropetrovsk region. Regions far to the west of the frontline were targeted, in an unusual twist to the Russian attacks.
In Ivano-Frankivsk, explosions were heard as cruise missiles targeted the region. Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv confirmed power outages following the strikes, saying: “There may be power outages! The country’s energy infrastructure is under attack.”
Blasts in that region were heard for three hours from 6am, with witnesses saying they were “almost continuous. The Burshtyn Thermal Power Plant, located near the city, sits at a strategic junction connecting Ukraine’s power grid with Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia.
The plant has been repeatedly damaged during the war, but workers said it will once again be restored. In the Mykolaiv region, shelling caused widespread power outages and disrupted rail services. Russian forces also attacked two energy infrastructure facilities in the Lviv region, close to Poland.
In the Vinnytsia region, the city of Ladyzhyn was left without heat and water following the overnight strikes. Authorities are preparing to launch an alternative heating and water supply system.
Poland’s air force scrambled fighter jets and an early warning aircraft in response to Russia ’s missile and drone attack. The Armed Forces there said ground-based air defence and radar systems were placed on the highest alert. Poland’s Operational Command said:
“Due to the Russian Federation’s attack on targets in Ukraine, the Polish and allied air forces have launched operations in our airspace.” It added that warplanes and crews “remain ready for immediate response.”