Russian strikes target Ukraine infrastructure, kill 12 and injure 40

Russian missile and drone strikes killed at least 12 civilians and injured around 40 others across Ukraine on Monday, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemning the attacks as “horrific” and renewing calls for stronger air defence support from Europe, reported Associated Press.The latest strikes came as Russia’s war against Ukraine continues into its fifth year, with Moscow’s forces repeatedly targeting Ukrainian cities, energy facilities and critical infrastructure. The United Nations has reported that more than 16,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed since the full-scale invasion began.

KYIV, Ukraine — Russian missiles and drones killed at least 12 civilians and injured 40 others in Ukraine on Monday in what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as “horrific attacks.”

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A Russian missile strike targeting infrastructure in the central city of Dnipro killed six people and wounded 29 others, according to Dnipropetrovsk regional head Oleksandr Hanzha. In the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, Russian drones struck a passenger minibus, killing three people and injuring six, including a child, Zelenskyy said in a social media post.Additional drone attacks in the northeastern Sumy region killed a 69-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man, Ukraine’s National Police said. In Kharkiv, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that a daytime Russian strike killed one person and wounded five others.According to media reports the deadly attacks were also reported in at least six other Ukrainian regions, though further details were not immediately available.
Russian Strikes Disrupt Power Supply
The strikes also affected Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving some residents without electricity in eight regions, national grid operator Ukrenergo said. The outages came amid high temperatures that increased power demand as people used air conditioners.Zelenskyy urged European nations to accelerate the development of advanced air defence systems, particularly those capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.“People need greater protection from such horrific attacks,” Zelenskyy said, stressing that Europe must strengthen its own anti-ballistic defence capabilities and missile systems.
Ukraine Expands Drone Operations Against Russia
Meanwhile, the war has seen a shift in recent months, with Ukraine increasing long-range drone attacks on Russian energy facilities and military supply routes. Western officials and analysts say the strikes have contributed to fuel shortages in Russia and Russian-controlled territories while disrupting supply lines supporting Moscow’s military operations.Ukraine’s advances in drone technology have strengthened its battlefield capabilities, making the country a major developer of military drone systems. Kyiv has also begun assisting partner countries with drone expertise after previously relying heavily on foreign military aid.Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday acknowledged that Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil infrastructure had caused fuel shortages, leading to public frustration and long queues at petrol stations. However, he ruled out concessions to end the war, saying Russia would eventually achieve its objectives.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow’s position remained unchanged and that Russian forces would continue their offensive operations, expressing confidence that “the goals will be achieved.”