Russian air attack on Ukraine kills three

A massive Russian strike on Ukraine killed at least three people, including a four-year-old, as air raids and power outages hit cities nationwide. President Zelenskyy condemned the attack, urging greater pressure on Moscow.

Ukrainan President says that more than 600 drones and 30 missiles were used in the assault, which disrupted electricity, heating, and daily life, highlighting the ongoing pressure on Kyiv during the nearly four-year conflict.

“As of now, air raid alerts remain in effect across most of Ukraine. At the same time, all necessary services are engaged in dealing with the aftermath of the strike,” he said.

Debris fell near a residential building in Kyiv’s Sviatoshynskyi district, damaging windows, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app.

Ukraine’s energy ministry reported that emergency power outages were introduced in several regions, including Kyiv and the surrounding areas, after Russia again attacked energy facilities.

Poland, a NATO member bordering western Ukraine, said Polish and allied aircraft were deployed to protect Polish airspace after Russian strikes targeted areas near the border.

“These measures are preventive in nature and are aimed at securing and protecting the airspace,” Poland’s operational command said on X. Poland typically scrambles jets during major Russian missile-and-drone barrages on western Ukraine when strikes are assessed to pose a heightened risk near the border.

The strikes came just before Christmas, a time when Ukrainians seek to be home with their families, underscoring the timing’s psychological impact.

Russia has yet to comment on the recent attack on Ukraine. Zelenskyy urged Western partners to increase pressure on Moscow, saying, “Putin still cannot accept that he must stop killing. And that means that the world is not putting enough pressure on Russia.”

Tags