Russia launches drone attack across Ukraine – as Kyiv responds with strikes on airfields

Russian forces launched a major attack across 15 Ukrainian regions overnight, authorities said, damaging energy infrastructure and residential buildings.

Drones hit power lines in the Kyiv, Odesa and Ivano-Frankivsk regions over the past day, Ukraine‘s energy ministry clamed, causing power cuts in the southern Odesa region.

The Ukrainian air force said it shot down 78 out of 105 drones, 15 of which were hit over Kyiv and surrounding areas during the five-hour attack.

Hours later, Ukraine attacked Russia‘s Borisoglebsk military airfield and warehouses for guided bombs in the Voronezh region, according to a security source cited by Reuters.

Strikes on Russia’s airfields will continue, the source added, as Ukraine’s SBU security service takes action to cut Russia’s ability to use guided bombs on Ukrainian cities.

Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed Ukraine’s “victory plan” with NATO chief Mark Rutte on his first visit to Kyiv since his appointment.

Mr Zelenskyy said he would like to see allies shoot down Iranian missiles and drones used against Ukraine, in the same way they did during attacks on Israel.

Moscow denies targeting civilians and its defence ministry claimed its forces hit Ukrainian energy facilities that were providing power to Ukraine’s armed forces in the overnight assault.

But Russia has regularly struck towns and cities behind the front lines, with a guided bomb hitting a residential block in the city of Kharkiv on Wednesday, injuring at least 10 people.

The strikes, which are intensifying as winter nears, have prompted Kyiv to call on allies to lift restrictions on its use of Western long-range weapons to strike deep into Russia.

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On Thursday, the Ukrainian military said it used ATACMS ballistic missiles provided by the US to strike a Russian radar station.

It is not clear when the strike took place or where the Nebo-M radar station is.