Even ahead of the end-of-war negotiations... Russia and Ukraine launch large-scale missile and drone attacks

(Johannesburg = Yonhap News) Correspondent Na Confirmation = As Ukraine and Russia prepare for trilateral negotiations with the United States next week, both sides are continuing large-scale attacks targeting each other.

In Ukraine, at least nine people were injured and a power outage occurred in five regions due to Russian missile and drone attacks, and in Russia, one resident was killed and an oil refinery was attacked.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on the 7th (local time) on

President Zelenskyy said that Russia's latest attack primarily targeted energy facilities, damaging substations in several provinces, and also attacking a kindergarten, injuring a total of nine people, including one child.

“Ukraine should not be left to face it alone as Russia seeks to plunge Kiev, a city of millions, and all of Ukraine into darkness,” he said, urging increased U.S. support and stronger sanctions against Russia.

Ukraine's Ministry of Energy said in a statement today that power supply was cut off in five oblasts - Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Donetsk Oblast, Kyiv Oblast, Zhytomyr Oblast, and Kharkiv Oblast - due to Russian attacks on energy facilities, AFP reported.

The city of Kiev also said the northern bridge across the Dnipro River had been attacked, blocking traffic.

“The energy supply situation in the capital is very difficult, and it is also affecting the city’s heating and water supply systems,” Chiiu Mayor Vitali Klitschko told The Associated Press.

The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the attack in a statement, claiming that the northern Kiiu bridge was being used to transport weapons, military equipment and special equipment for the Ukrainian army.

The Russian Ministry of Defense also added that it attacked industrial facilities, power plants, and substations that produce Flamingo missiles in Kiiu, and factories that produce ammunition, explosives, and gunpowder in the Kiiu area.

Ukrainian emergency rescue authorities announced on this day that the number of victims killed in a Russian attack using several 3-ton bombs on the relief material distribution center in Komyshvakha, Zaporizhia Oblast, southern Ukraine, on the 3rd increased to 55.

Dozens of people are still missing here, and rescue authorities are continuing their search.

Meanwhile, in Russia, local authorities announced on the 7th that a private house in Belgorod Oblast was attacked by a Ukrainian drone, killing one resident.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that 411 Ukrainian drones were shot down in 10 regions, including Belgorod Oblast, overnight.

Additionally, the Saratov oil refinery and commercial warehouses and production facilities in Oryol were damaged, regional administration officials said.