Russia delivered a calculated massive strike against Ukraine precisely on the day of the US Congressional elections, with energy once again becoming the main target, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated.
"A complex massive strike was carried out by the Russians tonight, calculated primarily against critical infrastructure," Zelenskyy said.
According to him, the main targets are generation facilities and substations in the Odesa, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Chernivtsi, Chernihiv, and Rivne regions. Emergency and power outages continue in many cities and communities.
In Kharkiv, the Russians struck a city clinical hospital. 73 people were injured, and the cardiology department where patients were being treated was damaged.
"Also, since yesterday, a rescue operation has been ongoing in Komyshuvakha, Zaporizhzhia region. Tragically, the death toll has risen. Russia killed 29 people. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Five people were injured. People are still under the rubble. Rescue operations continue as much as the security situation allows – there is a threat of a Russian double-tap strike, which they always do so viciously," Zelenskyy stated.
Overnight, Russia launched 289 strike drones, 17 ballistic missiles, and 59 cruise missiles.
"It is very telling that all of this is happening on the day of the American Congressional elections. The Russians think that America will not notice this signal of theirs. But such terror must be noticed and stopped," the President said.
Zelenskyy urged partners to help Ukraine protect its skies.
"Otherwise, Russia will never stop its missile strikes," he noted.
Ukraine's air defense forces shot down or suppressed 309 targets, but missiles and drones impacted across 23 locations.
