Ukraine

Russia fired dozens of drones and missiles at Ukraine's energy infrastructure overnight, wounding at least six people and cutting off power in several regions, officials said on Friday.

Moscow has stepped up its aerial bombardment of Ukraine in recent weeks, targeting electricity facilities in response to an uptick in deadly Ukrainian assaults on Russia's border regions.

France has announced plans to expedite the production and delivery of essential military equipment to support Ukrainian forces. The French government's decision comes amidst escalating tensions in the region, with efforts focused on bolstering Ukraine's defense capabilities in the face of continued Russian aggression.

Russian forces have carried out targeted attacks on critical infrastructure sites in central Ukraine, causing widespread alarm and disruption. The assault, centered around the city of Dnipro, has left at least one person injured and prompted urgent warnings of missile strikes across the country.

Early this morning, multiple explosions reverberated through the streets of Kyiv as Ukraine was thrust into a state of high alert following a series of missile strikes launched by Russian strategic bombers. Local authorities reported that Ukraine's air defense systems successfully repelled the attack on the capital, with several Russian drones being intercepted and shot down.

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.

In the aftermath of last night's devastating Russian airstrikes on energy facilities, over one million consumers in Ukraine find themselves without power, as reported by a senior presidential official today. The strikes have wrought havoc across multiple regions, leaving hundreds of thousands in darkness.

The International Monetary Fund's executive board has confirmed it will disburse $880 million to Ukraine in the third phase of a $15.6 billion aid package to support the country's war-torn economy.

European Union leaders are convening in Brussels to address the escalating crisis in Ukraine and explore significant military and financial measures to bolster support for the country.

A proposal aiming to allocate revenues from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine is facing obstacles at the European Council meeting commencing today, reveals a high-ranking diplomat speaking to Deutsche Welle.

The setback stems from Hungary's objection to utilizing these funds for purchasing weapons for the Ukrainian armed forces.

Russia is set to bolster its military capabilities with the formation of two new combined armies and the addition of 14 divisions by the end of this year, announced Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow.