Russia Pounds Ukraine In Massive Attack (Worthy News In-Depth)

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – In a move that worries neighboring countries, Russia launched a massive air strike against western Ukraine on Friday in what Kyiv called “one of the largest attacks” on its power infrastructure since the war erupted in February 2022.

Moscow’s military fired almost 200 drones and more than 90 missiles, including at least one made by North Korea, 81 of which were intercepted, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media.

The strikes forced Ukraine to reduce output at five of its nine nuclear reactors, the International Atomic Energy Agency said.

According to Ukraine’s air force, hypersonic Kinzhal missiles were used in the attacks on the western regions of Ternopil, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Zakarpattia.

The targets included thermal power plants of private energy group DTEK, with some equipment “significantly damaged,” the company said.

A person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg on condition of anonymity that four of the company’s thermal plants were damaged, and their condition is extremely fragile.

Worthy News monitored the attacks, which prompted nearby Poland to scramble fighter jets. Earlier, Hungary increased defense systems along its borders with Ukraine. Poland and Hungary are both members of the NATO military alliance.

LATEST STRIKES

Ahead of the latest Russian strikes, Hungary’s Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said that “the Russian-Ukrainian war has entered its most dangerous phase yet.”

However, the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday that the strikes were in response to Kyiv using six US-made

ATACMS long-range missiles will hit a military airfield in Russia’s Rostov region on Wednesday.

Critics countered that Moscow’s forces have been attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since the autumn of 2022, well before Ukraine received long-range missiles from the U.S.

The latest assault came as temperatures plunged across Ukraine, with -1O Celsius (14 Fahrenheit) expected in Kyiv, the capital.

“Hypersonic Kinzhal missiles were used” in strikes that focused on the western regions of Ternopil, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Zakarpattia, according to Ukraine’s air force.

“The targets included thermal power plants of private energy group DTEK, with some equipment significantly damaged,” the company said. “Four of the firm’s company’s thermal plants were damaged, and their condition is extremely fragile,” added an official on conditions of anonymity.

Hungary, which currently holds the rotating European Union presidency, still hopes to help reach a Christmas truce in Ukraine, officials said. Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk seeks to relaunch peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv as his nation will take over the EU presidency.

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