Zaporizhzhia

Reports from Ukrainian media have confirmed that Russia has initiated significant missile strikes in Ukraine, employing Tu-95 and MiG-31 strategic bombers. The strikes, which included the deployment of "Kinzhal" missiles, targeted the cities of Lviv and Kyiv.

Tensions in Ukraine have reached a critical juncture as reports emerge of new shelling by Russian forces, exacerbating the already complex situation on the front lines. Despite the onslaught, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared that Kyiv is formulating plans for a decisive counteroffensive against the aggressors.

Russian strikes on Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region killed three people on Monday, in a second day of deadly attacks on the area, its governor said.

The strike on the rural area came a day after three people were killed in a Russian attack on the town of Gulyaipole.

The conflict between the Russian and Ukrainian armies has reached a critical juncture as fierce battles unfold for control over the town of Chasov Yar in the Donetsk region. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Russian forces have advanced into the suburbs, heightening tensions in the war-torn region.

Russian forces have launched a devastating drone attack across the entirety of Ukraine, leaving a trail of destruction and casualties in its wake. The assault, which struck residential areas in cities like Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv, has sent shockwaves through the region, prompting urgent responses from international leaders and organizations.

Overnight Russian airstrikes targeted energy facilities across Ukraine, leaving over 1 million energy consumers in the country without electricity, as reported by Reuters.

The airstrikes primarily focused on regions in eastern Kharkiv Oblast, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and Poltava Oblast, resulting in widespread power outages affecting hundreds of thousands of residents.

Russia launched a massive wave of deadly overnight attacks on Ukraine using over 90 missiles and 60 Iranian-made drones, Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday, in one of the largest offensives recently.

"There were more than 60 'Shaheds' and almost 90 missiles of various types overnight," he said.

The city of Kharkiv, Ukraine, was shaken by a series of explosions this morning, with Mayor Igor Terekhov confirming about 15 blasts. Initial assessments suggest that Russian missile strikes deliberately targeted the city's power infrastructure, resulting in a partial blackout and disrupting essential services.

On the other hand, the Russian army announced that Ukraine carried out 39 artillery strikes on populated areas on the left bank of the Dnieper, within the Kherson region.
During the night, Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 16 Russian drones over Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.

Day 702 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours: