NATO warplanes were scrambled as Vladimir Putin’s bombers launched an enormous blitz on Ukraine.
The Russian tyrant launched 93 missiles and some 200 drones overnight in a strike at energy infrastructure that could leave half the country freezing.
ReutersUkrainians took shelter in underground train stations during the blitz[/caption]
East2WestMissiles targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure[/caption]
AlamyVladimir Putin claims he wants peace, but continue to launches attacks against Ukraine[/caption]
Some 11 of the 81 missiles destroyed were downed by F-16 planes provided by the West, Volodymyr Zelensky claimed.
Kyiv says it also blasted 80 of the drones, but major damage appears to have been done to some power plants.
Rolling power cuts have now been introduced by authorities despite freezing -5C conditions in the capital.
Residents of Kyiv huddled in underground train stations wrapped up warm as they waited out the blitz.
A massive Russian onslaught had been expected but there were no immediate reports of the fearsome medium range ballistic missile Oreshnik being deployed, as had been predicted.
Instead, Ukraine was hit with Iskander, Kalibr, Kinzhal missiles and Iranian-designed Shahed kamikaze drones.
The missiles were launched from Tu-95MS strategic bombers and MiG-31Ks deep inside Russia.
Parts of Kyiv have now lost power with the city’s underground rail system at a halt.
Energy minister German Galushchenko said: “’The enemy continues its terror.
“Once again, [the power sector] throughout Ukraine is under massive attack.
“Energy workers are taking all necessary measures to minimise the negative consequences for the power system.”
Some of the strikes hit in the west of the country, leading Poland to also scramble its jets in response.
Zelensky has now blasted Putin over the attack and his claims that he wants peace.
The brave leader said: “This is how he wants ‘negotiations’ – terrorising millions of people.
ReutersKyiv residents take shelter inside the metro station[/caption]
East2WestOne missile was destroyed over the southwestern city of Odessa[/caption]
“And he is not limited either in range or in purchasing the necessary components for the production of missiles.
“We need ‘Patriots’ to shoot down these missiles and prove that terror will not achieve its goal.”
Russia had warned of a powerful response to a Ukrainian strike this week carried out by US-supplied ATACMS missiles.
The long-range missiles are critical to Ukraine and its ability to disrupt Putin’s war machine, it says.
But their use has been hotly debated with Russia vowing revenge and some Western backers thinking they are too strong.
In late November, Trump told Time: “I disagree very vehemently with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why are we doing that?”
Both US ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles have been used to hit Russian territory for the first time since last month.
It comes after a Ukrainian drone detonated in the air over an elite forces facility in Grozny, capital of Chechnya, an area run by local warlord Ramzan Kadyrov.
The attack damaged the barracks of a police special forces regiment named after Kadyrov’s assassinated father, Akhmat, who previously ruled the region.
ReutersKyiv’s residents have wrapped up warm to battle the blitz as temperatures plunge[/caption]
AFPUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has slammed Russia for the attack[/caption]
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