Reuters Russia launches dozens of missiles in one of the biggest attacks on Ukraine 12/16/2022 18:50

Ukrainian officials said Russia launched more than 70 missiles at Ukraine on Friday in one of its biggest attacks since the start of the war, shutting down electricity supplies in the country’s second-largest city and forcing Kiev to impose emergency cuts across the country. .

Authorities said three people were killed when an apartment block was struck in the center of Kryvyi Rih, and another person was killed when a bomb exploded in the southern Kherson.

Officials deployed by the Russians in occupied eastern Ukraine said 12 people were killed in Ukrainian air strikes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video speech in the evening that Russia still has enough missiles for several major attacks, and once again urged Western allies to provide Kiev with more and better air defense systems.

Zelensky said Ukraine is strong enough to return. “Whatever Moscow’s rocket worshipers may think, it still won’t change the balance of power in this war,” he said.

Kyiv warned on Thursday that Moscow is planning a new all-out offensive early next year, nearly a year after the February 24 invasion, in which large areas of Ukraine were destroyed by missiles and artillery, but few were taken by Russian forces.

Russia has fired missiles at Ukraine’s electrical infrastructure nearly every week since the beginning of October after several defeats on the battlefield, but Friday’s attack did more damage than any other, with snow and ice all over the country.

After some repairs, Ukrainian network operator Ukrenergo lifted the state of emergency forcing a power outage. But the company also warned that it would take longer to repair equipment and restore electricity than in previous bombings.

The Ukrainian air force said Russia was sending warplanes to Ukraine to break up its air defenses. The chief of staff said 60 of Russia’s 76 missiles were shot down, but German Energy Minister Galushchenko said at least nine power generation facilities were hit.

Moscow says the attacks are aimed at neutralizing the Ukrainian armed forces. Ukrainians classify them as war crimes.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said late Friday that only a third of the city’s residents have heating and water, and 40% have electricity. The metro system, which is a very important transportation artery in the city, continues to be closed.

Zelensky urged Ukrainians to be patient and urged regional authorities to be more creative in securing emergency power supplies.

The city of Kharkiv, in northeastern Ukraine and the country’s second largest city, has also been hit hard by cuts to electricity, heating and water. Later on Friday, Ukraine’s Interfax news agency reported that regional governor Oleh Synehubov said that 55% of the city’s electricity, and 85% in the surrounding area, was back.

*Reporting by Reuters news centers; Written by Stephen Coates, Philippa Fletcher and Mark Heinrich.