From the night of the 8th until the dawn of the 9th, the Russian military launched a total of over 80 missile attacks on major cities such as Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, Cherkasy in the center, Odessa and Mykolaiv in the south, and Dnipropetrovsk in the east.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said Russia had fired 81 missiles, including six hypersonic missiles known as Kinzhal. He also added that air strikes with self-destructing drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) are also being carried out.
As a result, infrastructure such as residential buildings and energy facilities in major cities were destroyed, and at least six people were killed, local media reported.
All of the dead were said to be civilians.
BREAKING: Russia unleashes missile barrage on Ukrainian cities”%27 is a major attack”@ramsaysky reports on Russia%27’s new attack on a nuclear power station in Ukrainehttps://t.co/X3flQUBL0r 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/bJtyUGgvtZ
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 9, 2023
■ Zaporizhia nuclear power plant power supply cut off
On this morning, air raid sirens sounded across Ukraine for at least five hours, and air defense systems were activated in many places.
Ukrainian power company DTEK announced today that it is undergoing emergency power cuts in Kiev, Cherkasy, Odessa, Mykolaiu, Dnipropetrovsk and eastern Donetsk following Russian missile attacks targeting energy infrastructure.
The power supply for operating the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant was also cut off. This is the sixth time the power supply has been cut off at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
In addition, train services in major cities have been temporarily suspended.
Vitaly Klitschko, the mayor of Kiwu, said that an explosion had occurred in the southern district of Holosiuski, and that rescue personnel had been sent to the scene.
Kharkiv Governor Ole Siniehuvou said 15 missiles damaged residential buildings in Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv, and in the northeastern region.
“Once again, critical infrastructure has been targeted,” Governor Siniehubou said.
Odessa Governor Maxim Marchenko also said that energy infrastructure and residential buildings were damaged.
“Residents are encouraged to move to shelters as follow-up attacks are expected to begin,” Marchenko added.
■ Zelensky “return to common tactics”
This is the first time in three weeks since the 16th of last month that Russia has launched a large-scale missile attack on Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on the 9th, “The enemy has returned to the puny tactic of firing 81 missiles to scare Ukrainians. All they can do is scare civilians,” he said.
“They cannot escape responsibility for everything they have done,” he said.
Regarding the attack on this day, some interpret it as the prelude to the ‘Spring Offensive’.
Previously, Russian experts had noticed that Russia would launch a large-scale attack around the 23rd of last month, “Father’s Defender’s Day,” and the 24th of the same month, the first anniversary of the invasion of the Ukraine.
However, there was no real large-scale attack.
With this, there was an analysis that the Russian military was experiencing a shortage of weapons and ammunition, and observations were made that it was saving missiles.
This is VOA News Jongsu Oh.
