Russia launches ‘one of the most intense airstrikes,’ Ukrainian FM reports

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported that the Russian military had launched one of its most intense aerial attacks on multiple Ukrainian cities.

Sybiha remarked that the strikes, carried out early in the morning, targeted peaceful cities, sleeping civilians, and critical infrastructure using drones and missiles, in a statement on his X account. “Russia has launched one of the most intense air assaults against peaceful cities, sleeping civilians, and critical infrastructure using drones and missiles,” he said.

Russia launched one of the largest air attacks: drones and missiles against peaceful cities, sleeping civilians, critical infrastructure. This is war criminal Putin’s true response to all those who called and visited him recently. We need peace through strength, not appeasement.

— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) November 17, 2024

Sybiha suggested the assault was a response to a recent diplomatic outreach to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “We need peace, but not through appeasement—through strength,” he added.

Ukraine’s Air Defense Forces Command confirmed via Telegram that Russian forces launched missiles and drones across several regions. Air defense systems were activated in multiple cities, including the capital Kyiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and Kryvyi Rih, where explosions were reported.

In Mykolaiv, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attack resulted in two fatalities and six injuries, officials confirmed.

Russia targets energy infrastructure

Energy Minister German Galushchenko stated the strikes targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. “The enemy is attacking electricity generation and transmission facilities across Ukraine,” Galushchenko wrote, adding that power outages have been reported nationwide.

The Ukrainian Air Defense Forces emphasized that the attacks were ongoing, as authorities worked to mitigate their impact.

This latest escalation underscores the ongoing threats to civilian lives and critical infrastructure as Ukraine continues to resist Russian aggression.