Ukraine’s air force has put the whole country under air raid alert amid Russian missile attacks, including on Kyiv. The US says North Korean forces are involved in combat operations alongside Russian troops.
Ukrainian authorities have said Russia is launching multiple missile attacks, with the capital, Kyiv, also targeted.
The US says the majority of the 10,000 North Korean soldiers sent to Russia to help it in its invasion of Ukraine are already involved in combat in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops have captured some territory.
Week of intense attacks, US’ Blinken in Brussels amid Trump fears
Wednesday’s missile attacks have been preceded by a week of strikes as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues in its third year.
On Monday, a Russian strike on , the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, killed a 32-year-old woman and her three young children, while injuring 14 other people.
Over the weekend, both sides carried out record overnight drone attacks.
In other news, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to talk with EU and NATO representatives in Brussels on Wednesday about further support, amid fears on the part of Kyiv’s allies that the US might reduce or withdraw its aid under the incoming Trump presidency.
The outgoing Biden administration has said it plans in its remaining weeks to push through the more than $9 billion (€8.5 billion) of remaining funding appropriated by Congress for weapons and other security assistance to Ukraine.
Businesses face limited electricity supply as temperatures fall
Ukraine‘s national power grid operator Ukrenergo imposed limits on electricity supply for businesses on Wednesday for the first time since late August.
It said the limits, made necessary by “significantly” lower imports and lower generation, would be temporary.
“The restrictions will be in place during the day. In the evening, after the equipment is fixed, the restrictions will be lifted,” Ukrenergo said on the Telegram messenger app.
Ukraine’s largest private power generator and distributor DTEK said restrictions would apply to Kyiv, the Kyiv region, Odesa, Dnipro and the Donetsk regions.
“The reasons: a shortage (of electricity) in the power grid due to previous shelling by Russia and a drop in temperature,” DTEK said on Telegram.
Russia has deliberately targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during its invasion and has stepped up missile and drone attacks on energy facilities as winter approaches, raising fears that Ukrainians could suffer unbearable cold because of a lack of adequate heating.
According to Ukrainian officials, the country relies mainly on three nuclear power plants for all its energy, with half its previous generating capacity destroyed.
All of Ukraine under air raid alert, Kyiv attacked
Russia has launched renewed missile attacks on Ukraine , with the president’s chief of staff warning that the capital, Kyiv, was also under attack.
“[Russian President Vladimir] Putin is launching a missile attack on Kyiv right now,” Andriy Yermak said on Telegram.
Ukraine’s air force previously warned that a missile had entered the country’s airspace and was headed for Kyiv.
Reuters’ witnesses reported hearing blasts in the city.
“Explosions in the city. Air defense forces are working. Stay in shelters!” the Kyiv city administration said on Telegram.
The attacks involved cruise missiles launched from strategic aircraft as well as ballistic missiles, the Ukrainian military said.
