KYIV (Reuters) – Russian forces struck critical infrastructure in several parts of Ukraine in overnight attacks and at least 17 missiles hit the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia in an hour early on Friday.
Air raid sirens blared across the country during the morning rush hour and local officials urged civilians to take cover and warned of potential new strikes.
“Enemy aircraft are in the air and ships capable of carrying Kaliber missiles are in the sea. The enemy fired the missiles. Air readiness will be long,” said Maksym Marchenko, regional governor of the southern Odesa region.
“Please don’t ignore the air raid sirens and go to the shelters.”
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The attack on Zaporizhzhia was the heaviest since Russia invaded Ukraine last February, local officials said.
Critical infrastructure was also affected in Khmelnitskyi in western Ukraine, Kharkiv in the northeast and the Dnipropetrovsk region in the center of the country, regional officials said.
Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat told Ukrainian television that Ukrainian air defenses had shot down five of seven drones and five of six Kaliber missiles fired at Ukraine.
The air force also said 35 S-300 missiles were fired in Kharkiv and Zaporizhizhia regions. Ukraine’s air defenses are not capable of shooting down this type of missile.
Officials also said they ordered emergency power cuts across the country following the attacks on infrastructure.
“There is a big threat of a missile attack. I want to emphasize again – do not ignore the air warning sirens,” said Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration.
