Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, on Friday, said Russia’s overnight aerial assault on Ukraine included 93 missiles and over 200 drones targeting its power grid.
In a statement released on X, Zelensky said the Ukrainian air force was able to shoot down 81 missiles, adding that one of the missiles belonged to North Korea.
Zelensky, who described it as “one of the largest strikes targeting our energy infrastructure,” called on the West to step in and stop Russian President, Vladimir Putin, by cutting down the country’s oil funds.
“Another Russian missile strike against Ukraine. Cruise missiles, ballistic missiles. According to preliminary reports, 93 missiles were launched, including at least one North Korean missile.
“A total of 81 missiles were shot down, 11 of which were cruise missiles intercepted by our F-16s. Additionally, the Russians used nearly 200 drones in this attack. This was one of the largest strikes targeting our energy infrastructure.
“This is Putin’s “peace plan”—to destroy everything. This is how he wants “negotiations”—by terrorizing millions of people. He is neither limited in long-range capabilities nor in acquiring the necessary components to produce missiles.
“Oil gives Putin enough money to believe in his impunity. A strong reaction is needed from the world: a massive attack must be met with a massive reaction. This is the only way terror can be stopped.
“If leaders fear responding or become accustomed to terror, Putin sees it as permission to continue. Patriots are needed to shoot down these missiles and prove that terror will not achieve its goals. Sanctions against Russia for the war must be strengthened to genuinely impact Russia’s missile production.
“Putin won’t be stopped by empty talk—strength is what is needed to bring peace. Strength that is not afraid of its ability to confront and stop evil.
“The world can stop this madness, and to do so, it must first stop the madness in Moscow that has been ordering terror for over 20 years,” he said.
Earlier, Ukraine’s energy minister, Herman Halushchenko, in a post on his Facebook account, confirmed the attack, saying, “The enemy continues its terror.”
He however added that the country’s energy workers are making huge efforts to “minimize negative consequences for the energy system,” promising to release more details on damages once the security situation allows it.
This latest assault is part of Russia’s ongoing efforts to cripple Ukraine’s power generation capacity as winter approaches.
Moscow claims the strikes are aimed at disabling facilities supporting Ukraine’s defence industry, but the attacks have had devastating effects on civilian infrastructure, causing widespread outages and impacting heating and water supplies.
Russia had on November 20, launched a massive attack on Ukraine’s energy grid, which saw approximately 200 missiles and drones deployed.
It left over a million households without power until emergency teams managed to restore services.
North Korean Missile Among 93 Rockets Fired At Ukraine By Russia — Zelensky is first published on The Whistler Newspaper