Starting this morning, Russia launched a large-scale missile attack on Ukraine, focusing its strikes on energy infrastructure in various regions of the country. Missiles were launched from Tu-95MS bombers, ships in the Black Sea and MiG-31 fighters. In addition, kamikaze drones of the Shahed type struck Ukrainian cities and villages.
Large groups of rockets went through the center to the west of Ukraine and hit Stryi, Ternopil, Frankiv Oblast and other western regions. There are ballistic hits in Odesa and Kharkiv, around 9 a.m. Russia hit the west of Ukraine and Zhytomyr region with aeroballistic "Daggers".
The main target of the strike is the energy system, the Minister of Energy said. Light restrictions are increasing. Many of the cities notified by the Air Force of danger have important energy facilities.
According to the Air Force, the rockets were moving towards Kyiv through Kirovohrad region and Cherkasy region at 7 am. There were many rockets in Mykolayiv region, Dnipropetrovsk region and Poltava region. From the north, they flew through Chernihiv Oblast and Sumy Oblast.
After 8:30 a.m., several more groups of rockets entered Ukraine and headed for the center of the country, the Air Force reported a new threat to Kyiv.
The rockets constantly change direction, some of them headed west through Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi at 7:30 a.m.
The second wave, after possible strikes on Kropyvnytskyi, also headed for Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi.
After 10 o'clock in the morning, the alarm began to sound.
The last time Russia carried out such a combined strike was on November 28, when a number of energy facilities were destroyed, and problems with electricity intensified.
Also, on December 10, Russia hit a hospital in Zaporizhzhia with a missile, killing 11 people.
Photo author, BBC
Kharkiv in the morning, then western Ukraine
Kharkiv authorities reported an attack on the suburbs. And she added that the emergency services have already left for the place.
Explosions rang out in Odesa , the mayor of the city, Gennadiy Trukhanov, said. Local mass media write about the stoppage of electric transport and disconnection of water supply. Ballistic missiles hit Odesa several times.
in Kyiv region , explosions were heard in Cherkasy and Vinnytsia regions .
The Air Force reported threats of strikes in Rivne Oblast, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Strya in Lviv Oblast, Transcarpathia and Ternopil .
Monitoring channels report energy strikes in these areas.
Strategic underground gas storages are located in Stryi.
Several times the PS reported strikes on Kozyatyn in Vinnytsia, where a large railway hub is located.
According to the PS, Bila Tserkva in the Kyiv region .
Around 9 a.m., the aeroballistic "Daggers" headed for Zhytomyr region, Khmelnytsky region and Ternopil.
The PS also announced a new missile threat to Kyiv.
The second wave of rockets passed similar to the first and its remnants also reached Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk region.
Monitoring channels wrote about possible strikes in Burshtyn, where a large CHP plant is located, but there is no official confirmation.
Photo author, BBC
Energy is under attack
As the Minister of Energy Herman Galushchenko reported, Russia continues terror and energy throughout Ukraine is under massive attack.
"Energy engineers take all necessary measures to minimize negative consequences for the energy system. As soon as the security situation allows, the damage caused will be specified," he wrote.
As the company "Ukrenergo" reported, due to the massive strike on the energy sector, restrictions on electricity consumption are increasing.
50% of Ternopil Oblast consumers are disconnected from electricity supply, the local OVA reported.
In Odesa, the local mass media write about the stoppage of electric transport.
A significant increase in blackouts was also reported in Kyiv.
