Russia conducted another massed attack on Ukrainian infrastructure, with cruise missiles and drones in the afternoon of November 23, 2022.
Explosions and air defense activity across Ukraine was reported, and electricity blackouts followed.
At least three people died and several more were injured as a result of cruise missile strikes on civilian homes in Kyiv, while water and electricity supply was cut across the city, Ukrainian news agency Unian reports.
Electricity grids in Zhytomyr, Lviv, Ladyzhyn, Dnipro, Kharkiv and several other cities were disabled, according to information compiled by Liveuamap.
As a result of the strikes at least two of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, the Rivne nuclear power plant and the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant, have been disconnected from the grid, local media reports. However, no damage to the powerplants has been reported.
The blackouts also spilled over to Moldova, which imports much of its electricity from Ukraine, with half of Maldova reportedly suffering from power outages, including the separatist region of Transdniestria.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, approximately 70 cruise missiles have been fired, some by Tupolev Tu-95 strategic bombers flying over Russia’s Rostov region. 51 missiles have been shot down by Ukrainian air defenses, the report claims.
This latest bombardment campaign bears similarities to a spate of recent attacks by Russia that began in October 2022.
Using a combination of cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and Iranian-made kamikaze drones, the attacks target a mix of civilian and military facilities, prioritizing Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, such as powerplants.
The attacks, as well as their potential to unintentionally result in damage across international borders, has prompted Western nations to provide Ukraine with more air defense systems, some of which have allegedly already entered service.