Russia bombarded Ukraine's energy infrastructure with missiles and drones during the early hours of Saturday (7), overloading Kiev's energy supply and heating systems, while temperatures approached 0ºC, according to Ukrainian authorities.
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, 36 ballistic missiles and 172 drones - of which 149 were shot down by the country's Air Force - were launched against Ukrainian territory, mainly against energy facilities.
"The capital is facing serious difficulties with the supply of electricity, water and heating," Zelensky said in a post on the social network X, adding that substations in the capital, Kiev, and five other regions were affected.
One of the attacks also hit and damaged an important bridge, the North Bridge over the Dnipro River, according to Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
At least two people were killed and about a dozen were injured. Homes, businesses and non-residential buildings were also damaged, authorities said.
Moscow's Defense Ministry confirmed it had carried out a massive attack against targets it described as belonging to Ukraine's military-industrial sector, as well as energy and transport infrastructure in and around Kiev.
The attacks come days before a new round of tripartite talks in Abu Dhabi between Ukrainian and Russian officials as part of a US-backed peace initiative that has so far produced few results.
"Russia is preparing for trilateral negotiations by launching ballistic missiles at Ukraine's critical infrastructure," Zelensky criticized in X.
A video released by the National Police of Ukraine this Thursday (5) showed the moment when Russian bombing hit a school that was used to distribute humanitarian aid in Zaporizhzhia.
Rescue teams found a survivor among the rubble and updated the death toll in the attack to 43.
"To date, 43 people have been confirmed dead. One of the people reported missing was found alive today. Every day, Russia attacks our cities and communities with drones and missiles," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The air attack took place on Monday (2), and Zelensky accused Russia of carrying out a double bombing — known as "double tap" in English —, which is prohibited by the Geneva Convention. Rescue teams continue their search this Thursday for dozens of people who are missing.
The video shows security teams and civilians outside the underground complex — which functioned as a school before the war and was adapted for distributing supplies —, and at one point, after receiving an air raid alert, they all go down stairs and go to a room. Then, the attack hits the location and destroys the complex.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks on his social networks and also in a video statement. According to Zelensky, the region had been hit several times by aerial bombs.
"The attacks targeted a school used for humanitarian purposes: it was there where people received humanitarian aid. After the first bombing, there was a second attack, with nine more bombs, which specifically hit the shelter where people had sought protection," he said.
The underground complex is located in the village of Komyshuvakha, in the southern state of Zaporizhzhia. "The scale of the tragedy is frightening. This is one of the worst tragedies in terms of civilian casualties in our region since the start of the large-scale war," said Mykhailo Semikin, acting head of the region's military administration.
The Ukrainian National Police announced on Thursday that the death toll had risen to 43 and that authorities believed that more than 30 people were still under the rubble.
It said the Russian attack was carried out with several bombs, including a three-ton FAB glide bomb. According to websites specialized in military intelligence, this weapon carries around 1.4 tons of explosives.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the attack targeted Ukrainian military units near Komyshuvakha and two other villages, and that up to 25 Ukrainian soldiers were killed.
