Russian forces unleashed a barrage of missile and drone strikes against cities in Ukraine on Friday.
The attacks hit critical infrastructure in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, in the north-east and energy infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia in the south-east. At least three explosions shook the capital Kyiv and the surrounding region.
Air raid sirens sounded across much of the country as the authorities warned of “threats of a massive Russian rocket attack”.
The strikes were further evidence of Vladimir Putin escalating his invasion of Ukraine ahead of the first anniversary of the conflict on February 24. They sparked fresh calls from Kyiv for long-range missiles and fighter jets to be supplied by the West.
“Russia has been striking at Ukrainian cities all night and morning,” presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on Twitter.
“Enough talk and political hesitation. Only fast key decisions: long-range missiles, fighter jets, operational supplies logistics for Ukraine.”
Officials in Zaporizhzhia said the city had been hit 17 times in an hour, making it the heaviest attack there so far.
Ukraine’s energy operator Ukrenergo said the strikes had led to power outages in some areas. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The attacks came as Kyiv’s military intelligence agency said that Russian forces had launched a fresh offensive in the partially occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions, with the aim of taking full control of the Donbas.
Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, claimed that two Russian Kalibr missiles launched from the Black Sea during Friday’s attacks had flown through Moldovan and Romanian air space before entering Ukraine. Russia did not immediately comment on the claim and Romania’s defence ministry said it could not confirm the report.
Critical infrastructure was also hit Khmelnitskyi in western Ukraine and the Dnipropetrovsk region in the centre of the country.
Air force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat told Ukrainian television that air defences had shot down five of seven drones and five out of six of the Kalibr missiles.
The air force also said 35 S-300 missiles were launched in the Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions. Ukraine’s air defences are unable to shoot down this type of missile.
UK defence chiefs said today that Russian troops had gained territory to the north of Bakhmut and around the western edge of the town of Vuhledar, but were suffering heavy losses including abandoning at least 30 armoured vehicles after a failed assault.
They said Putin’s generals were reported to be throwing “inexperienced units” into battle as they stepped up their attacks ahead of an expected full spring offensive. The briefing added: “Russian units have likely suffered particularly heavy casualties around Vuhledar as inexperienced units have been committed.
“Russian troops likely fled and abandoned at least 30 mostly intact armoured vehicles in a single incident after a failed assault.” Putin is massing thousands of troops in preparation for what military analysts expect to be an offensive launched within weeks.
But the former head of the British Army, Lord Dannatt, believes the major advance is likely to fail, particularly if Western tanks are supplied to Kyiv in time, leaving Ukraine able to launch a counter-offensive.
