Kyiv: At least 29 people were killed and dozens injured after Russia launched a massive overnight attack targeting critical infrastructure across Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the United States to take note of Moscow’s actions and step up support for Kyiv’s air defence.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Zelenskyy said Russia launched 289 attack drones, 17 ballistic missiles and 59 cruise missiles overnight, primarily targeting energy infrastructure, including power generation facilities and substations.
The affected regions included Odesa, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Chernivtsi, Chernihiv and Rivne, where emergency and unscheduled power outages were reported in several cities and communities.
Zelenskyy said Russian forces also struck a city clinical hospital in Kharkiv, injuring 73 people and damaging its cardiology department, where patients were receiving treatment.
Rescue operations continued in Komyshuvakha in the Zaporizhzhia region, where the death toll rose to 29, with five others injured. Several people remained trapped under the rubble.
“Rescue operations continue as far as the security situation allows – there is a threat of Russian double-tap strikes, as they always so wickedly do,” Zelenskyy said, expressing condolences to the families of those killed.
Highlighting the timing of the attack, Zelenskyy said the strikes took place on the day of the US congressional elections and urged Washington not to overlook what he described as a signal from Moscow.
“The Russians believe that America will not notice this signal from them. But such terror must be noticed and stopped,” he said, calling for US assistance to defend Ukraine’s airspace.
The remarks come amid renewed diplomatic efforts by Washington to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announced on Monday that the United States would mediate working-level negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11.
The discussions will focus on post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts and steps towards a peace agreement.
Witkoff also said American negotiators would meet representatives from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the European Union and NATO in Brussels later this week to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, Europe’s post-war security architecture and economic opportunities for reconstruction.
He expressed hope for a comprehensive and lasting peace agreement.
