Two people were killed, and 10 were injured in renewed Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday, as Moscow intensified strikes on the country’s energy infrastructure.

“The main targets of the attack were energy facilities in Kyiv, Odesa, and Dnipro,” Mr Zelensky wrote on Telegram.

He added that damage was also reported in the Kharkiv, Donetsk and Kherson regions, as well as in areas surrounding the capital, where he described the situation as particularly difficult.

Kyiv has faced weeks of severe energy supply problems due to persistent Russian airstrikes, affecting both electricity and heating during subfreezing winter temperatures.

Mr Zelensky said many residential buildings remain without district heating, leaving millions exposed to darkness and cold.

Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy grid, arguing that such facilities serve military purposes because the electricity generated supports Ukraine’s arms industry.

In the latest wave of attacks, Mr Zelensky said Russia deployed 219 combat drones and 25 missiles. “Most were neutralised, but unfortunately not all,” he said.

He renewed calls for stronger air defences, stressing that Patriot systems are the most effective protection against Russian ballistic missiles and that daily missile supplies are needed.

Mr Zelensky also urged countries participating in NATO’s PURL arms procurement programme to accelerate payments.

Under the scheme, NATO members jointly purchase U.S.-made defence equipment for Ukraine.

Russian news agencies reported that Moscow’s military confirmed carrying out drone and missile strikes, targeting what it described as a military airfield, transport infrastructure used by the Ukrainian army and army bases.

The war began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces carried out overnight attacks on military and energy-related sites in several Russian regions, according to local authorities.

In the southern Volgograd region, Governor Andrey Bocharov said air defences repelled a missile attack.

Debris from intercepted projectiles sparked a fire at a Defence Ministry facility near the village of Kotluban, he said, adding that evacuations were ordered due to ongoing detonations.

No immediate casualties or civilian infrastructure damage were reported.

However, unverified images and videos on social media appeared to show explosions in the area.

Ukrainian media claimed rocket artillery depots in the region were hit, though this could not be independently confirmed.

In the Tambov region further north, two people were injured in a separate drone attack, Governor Evgeny Pervyshov said.

Debris reportedly struck a technical college and a shop in the town of Michurinsk.

Ukrainian outlets also reported a drone strike on a refinery in Russia’s northern Komi Republic.

While local emergency services confirmed at least one drone attack but did not provide details on the extent of damage, social media images suggested the refinery was affected, though this has not been independently verified.

Authorities temporarily closed the airport in Ukhta as a precaution due to security concerns. 

(dpa/NAN)