Russia Launches Massive Air Strikes On Ukraine, Causing Casualties And Power Cuts
Russia launches massive air strikes on Ukraine, causing casualties and power cuts. The attack disrupted the main power supply for the nuclear power plant at Zaporizhzhya as the battle for Bakhmut in the east raged on. At least four people were killed in the strikes on the western Lviv region, Governor Maksym Kozytskiy said.
"At this moment, we know about four dead adults: two men and two women. They were at home when the missile hit. The debris is still being sorted. There may be other people under the rubble," Kozytskiy said, adding that three residential buildings had been destroyed.
One person was killed and two were wounded in the Dnipropetrovsk region, Governor Serhiy Lysak reported. At least two people were injured in a strike on Kyiv's Sviatoshyn district, Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram.
Russian strikes also targeted the Odesa and Kharkiv regions, causing power outages and damaging railway infrastructure. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed that it had hit all intended targets, including drone bases, railways, and facilities that manufacture and repair weapons.
The ministry said it had carried out strikes in retaliation for a cross-border raid into western Russia last week in which Russian officials claim a group of Ukrainian saboteurs crossed the border and fired on civilians in villages. Kyiv has denied the allegations, while suggesting Moscow might be seeking a "false-flag" pretext to stage new attacks on Ukraine.
COPYRIGHT_BP: Published on https://bingepost.com/russia-launches-massive-air-strikes-on-ukraine-causing-casualties-and-power-cuts/ by Cecilia Jones on 2023-03-10T06:11:17.778Z
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an online statement following the strikes that Russia would be held responsible for "terrorizing civilians."
“„The occupiers can only terrorize civilians. That's all they can do. But it won't help them. They won't avoid responsibility for everything they have done.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
The Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, was temporarily cut off from the country's electricity grid by the Russian missile attack. Electricity needed to keep the plant running was supplied by 18 diesel generators, before Ukraine's Ukrenerho electrical grid operator announced in the late afternoon that power had been restored.
Enerhoatom, the operator of the nuclear plant, had said earlier that the plant's fifth and sixth reactors had been shut down. It marked the first time since November 23 that the plant, which is under Russian control but being operated by Ukrainian technicians, had lost all power.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi warned about the risks posed by such shutdowns.
“„Each time we are rolling the dice. And if we allow this to continue time after time, then one day our luck will run out.
- IAEA chief Rafael Grossi
Russian-installed authorities in the Moscow-occupied part of the Zaporizhzhya region said the incident was "a provocation" by Ukraine.
The fresh wave of Russian strikes came as Ukrainian forces were under increasing pressure in Bakhmut, where a fierce battle for the control of the city in the eastern Donetsk city has been going on for months. Ukrainian defenders repelled more than 110 attacks in the area, the General Staff of the Armed Forces reported in its daily bulletin.
The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has escalated in recent weeks, with reports of increased military activity and casualties on both sides. The latest wave of Russian air strikes on March 9 has caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure and resulted in multiple casualties, including deaths and injuries.
The targeting of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, raises concerns about the potential for a nuclear accident or radiation leak. The temporary loss of power to the plant highlights the risks associated with attacks on critical infrastructure and underscores the importance of ensuring the safety and security of nuclear facilities.
The battle for Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine has been ongoing for months and has resulted in significant loss of life and displacement of civilians. The strategic importance of the city is unclear, but both sides appear to be determined to gain control, with Russian forces reportedly on the verge of taking the city.
The international community has condemned the escalation of violence and called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has expressed support for Ukraine and urged Russia to de-escalate the situation. The United States and other Western nations have also voiced their concern and called for an end to the hostilities.
Conclusion
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is a reminder of the fragility of international security and the potential for conflict to escalate quickly. The situation underscores the need for diplomacy and peaceful resolution of disputes, as well as the importance of maintaining strong international alliances and institutions to promote stability and prevent conflict.
