Zelensky informs about fresh Russian assaults on civilian infrastructure

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday reported that Russia launched fresh attacks on Ukraines civilian infrastructure, with more than 650 drones and 51 missiles causing injuries and damage overnight.

"Once again, energy facilities were the primary targets," Zelensky noted on social media. "Russia seeks to inflict suffering on millions of Ukrainians, going so far as to strike peaceful cities on St. Nicholas Day," he added, marking the December 6 start of Ukraine's Christmas season and Armed Forces Day.

The president emphasized the need for increased international pressure on Russia to end the war it initiated in February 2022 with a large-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Zelensky reported that the main building of the railway station in Fastiv, near Kyiv, was destroyed by fire, describing the strike as having no military justification. Other regions affected included Dnipro, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhya, Odessa, Lviv, Volyn, and Mykolaiv.

Poland responded to the Russian strikes by scrambling fighter jets and placing its air defense systems on alert, according to the countrys Armed Forces High Command on X.

Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported at least eight casualties from the attacks: three each in Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, and two in Lviv, western Ukraine.

The Russian Defence Ministry stated that its strikes targeted Ukraines military-industrial and energy facilities in retaliation for alleged Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilian sites. Ukraine, meanwhile, has significantly increased its operations against Russian territory this year, with particular focus on oil and gas infrastructure.

Author: Lucas Grant