Russia bombarded Ukrainian energy facilities with scores of missile and drone strikes early Friday, leaving swaths of the country cold and dark in the first major assault since losing key US military aid and intelligence.
At least 10 people, including a child, were wounded in the “massive missile and drone” barrage overnight, which also crippled the embattled country’s ability to keep its weapons factories operational, officials said.
“Russia continues its energy terror,” Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said. “Again energy and gas infrastructure in various regions of Ukraine has come under massive missile and drone fire.”
Firefighters battle flames after a Russian rocket attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine on March 7, 2025. AP
A Ukrainian serviceman walks through a debris field of damaged buildings following an attack in the town oof Pokrovsk on March 6, 2025. REUTERS
Debris from a destroyed building smokes. REUTERS
Nearly 70 missiles and close to 200 strike and decoy drones were fired, starting late Thursday, according to Kyiv. Roughly half were shot down, the military claimed.
Regional officials from the northeastern city of Kharkiv to the western city of Ternopil reported damage to energy and other infrastructure.
“Russia is trying to hurt ordinary Ukrainians by striking energy and gas production facilities, without abandoning its goal of leaving us without light and heat, and causing the greatest harm to ordinary citizens,” Halushchenko said.
The barrage came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said talks with the US on ending the three-year war would resume in Saudi Arabia next week, following the sudden breakdown since his disastrous White House meeting with President Trump.
Firefighters battle flames following Friday’s attack. AP
A hole left in the ground after the attack. AP
Smoke billows in the air following Russia’s latest attack on Ukraine. REUTERSThe US also confirmed Friday that it had halted Ukraine’s access to a program sharing unclassified satellite images that had been critical in helping it fight back against the Russians.
Zelensky called for a truce covering air and sea, though not ground troops – an idea first mooted by France.
“The first steps to establishing real peace should be forcing the sole source of this war, Russia, to stop such attacks,” Zelensky said in response to the overnight missile attack.
With Post Wires
