Zelenskyy calls for support 'in everything that helps protect lives, bring end to war’, following Russia’s overnight attack

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday said Russia carried out one of its largest overnight attacks against Ukraine, using more than 450 attack drones and around 30 missiles of various types.

He said the primary target of the strikes was once again the country’s energy infrastructure, mainly in the southern regions and the Odesa region. He said two people were injured in the region, while more than 10 civilian facilities were damaged nationwide.

Following the overnight bombardment, thousands of households were left without electricity in the Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson and Chernihiv regions. Strikes were also recorded in the Dnipropetrovsk and Cherkasy regions.

The President said all relevant services are working to restore electricity and water supply in the affected areas.

Zelenskyy stressed that the scale of the attacks demonstrates Russia’s intention to continue terrorising the civilian population and destroying the Ukrainian state.

“It is important that everyone sees what Russia is doing now. Every step, every attack aimed at terrorising our people is not about ending the war. They want to continue destroying our state and inflicting as much pain as possible on our people.

“That is why we need support in everything that helps protect lives and end this war, strengthening our air defence, supporting our soldiers on the front line, increasing our long-range capabilities and increasing pressure on Russia,” Zelenskyy said.

He added that all diplomatic efforts must be backed by pressure on the aggressor to bring an end to the war Russia started, thanking all partners who understand this and are ready to help.