What we know

• Russia targets energy infrastructure in a large-scale overnight attack across Ukraine
• Zelensky says 120 missiles and 90 drones were launched during a “massive combined strike on all regions of Ukraine”
• Ukraine’s largest private energy company says the attacks caused “significant damage” to its thermal energy plants
• Emergency blackouts have been announced in three regions under Russian attack
• Poland scrambled fighter jets as missiles headed to western Ukraine

For the first time in a long time, Russian missiles reach Ukraine’s westernmost region

In the early morning hours of 17 November, Russia launched one of the largest missile attacks on Ukraine since the beginning of the war.

According to the Ukrainian authorities, the Russian army launched 120 missiles and 90 drones. Authorities say that seven civilians were killed in the Russian attack in the Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv, Odesa and Mykolaiv regions. Dozens more were injured.

Such a massive launch was last seen almost three months ago – on 26 August, right after Ukraine’s Independence Day. Back then, Russia launched 127 missiles and 109 drones.

The targets of this attack were apparently Ukraine’s largest thermal power plants and transformer substations in the west and centre of the country, as well as railway.

For the first time in a long time, Russian missiles reached the westernmost region of Zakarpattya and landed near the popular ski resort of Bukovel.

Local authorities said that the energy infrastructure was partially damaged by the debris. For some time, power supply was cut off in many regions.

However, after a couple of hours, electricity supply was restored in most areas. But in cities like Odesa and Kryvyi Rih, the situation is still difficult.

Ukrainian authorities warn that the Kremlin still has a stockpile of missiles and that similar attacks could be repeated later in the winter.