Ukraine Russia most current news: Putin rockets struck Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia as ground offensive starts

Russia let loose a new age of rocket strikes on important facilities in Ukraine on Friday, triggering surges in the capital Kyiv and striking cities throughout the nation.

At least 17 rockets struck the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia in an hour in the heaviest attack because Russia gotten into Ukraine in February in 2015, regional authorities said.

Several energy centers in eastern, southern and western Ukraine were struck, interfering with the power supply, nationwide grid operator Ukrenergo said after over night drone and rocket strikes on power stations and transmission centers.

“The air alert will be long,” said Maksym Marchenko, local guv of the southern area of Odesa. “Please do not ignore the air alert sirens, and go to the shelters.”

The brand-new Russian attacks followed an unusual journey abroad today by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that consisted of talks with European Union leaders in Brussels focused on protecting more weapons for Ukraine consisting of fighter jets.

At least 3 surges shook Kyiv and the surrounding area, with authorities stating air defence systems functioned in the capital and in other parts of the nation.

The Russian anti-war reporter Marina Ovsyannikova is holding interview which you can see live here:

Russia‘s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Friday discussed nuclear safety issues with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi during his visit to Moscow.

The two men paid particular attention to the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in southern Ukraine, the TASS news agency reported.

Several explosions could be heard in Kyiv as officials reported high-voltage facilities across Ukraine being hit by Russian missile attacks on Friday morning.

Ukraine‘s power grid operator Ukrenergo said that several facilities in eastern, southern and western Ukraine had been hit, causing disruption to power supply.

Reuters journalists heard at least three explosions in Ukraine‘s capital city, Kyiv.

The mayor of eastern Ukraine‘s largest city, Kharkiv, confirmed an infrastructure facility there had been hit and warned of possible power outages as a result.

Ukrenergo said Russia attacked Ukraine‘s grid overnight with drones and missiles, targeting power stations and transmission facilities.

Moscow, which launched an invasion of Ukraine nearly a year ago, has waged a campaign of massed missile strikes targeting Ukraine‘s critical infrastructure since last October.

Several high-voltage facilities across Ukraine were hit by Russian missile attacks on Friday morning, Ukraine‘s state grid operator said.

Grid operator Ukrenergo said that several facilities in eastern, southern and western Ukraine had been hit, causing disruption to power supply.

Belarus on Friday slammed a decision by Poland to close a border checkpoint between the two countries as “catastrophic”, saying it could lead to a “collapse” on both sides of the border.

Poland said on Thursday, citing security concerns, it would close a key border crossing into Belarus at Bobrowniki, starting at 12 p.m. local time (1100 GMT) on Friday, driving already hostile relations between the two countries to a new low.

Minsk criticised the decision on Thursday, but went further in a statement on Friday, calling the move irrational and dangerous.

“The actions of the Polish authorities could lead to a collapse on both sides of the border,” Belarus’ border committee said in a declaration shared on social networks.

Poland has actually ended up being a crucial sanctuary for challengers of President Alexander Lukashenko and Warsaw has actually turned into one of Kyiv’s staunchest advocates because Belarus’ primary ally Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022.

After the closure enters force, just 2 of 6 significant land crossing points along the 2 nations’ 400-km (249 mile) border will be open, Belarus’ border force said in a declaration.

“With the closure of another Polish checkpoint, the situation will become catastrophic,” Belarus’ border force included, indicating already existing long lines at border crossings. “The load on the remaining two checkpoints will critically increase”.

Minsk likewise said it thought the choice was actively created to “further aggravate the situation at the border and limit citizens’ travel.”

Relations were additional strained on Wednesday when a reporter of Polish origin was sentenced to 8 years in jail by a Belarusian court in a trial Warsaw says was politically encouraged.

An air raid alert was stated in all of Ukraine on Friday as authorities alerted of prospective Russian rocket strikes, prompting citizens to nestle.

“There is a big threat of the missile attack. I want to stress again – do not ignore the air alert sirens,” said Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv city military administration.

An air alert has actually been triggered throughout Ukraine as about 20 rockets are anticipated, guv of Mykolaiv area Vitalii Kim said.

Russian forces have actually targeted energy facilities in Zaporizhzhia early today, striking the city 17 times in an hour, Zaporizhzhia city board secretary Anatolii Kurtiev said.

The significant city, which homes Europe’s biggest nuclear reactor, was consisted of in an air raid alert throughout the nation today.

“General air raid alert over Ukraine. This follows another night with attacks by drones and missiles in several regions, including Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro,” said press reporter Emmanuelle Chaze said.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky started a journey around Europe today to prompt his partners into motivating actions towards the supply of fighter jets.

Britain, which less than a fortnight ago appeared to dismiss sending out either of its active designs of warplane, was the very first stop and prime minister Rishi Sunak invited his equivalent from Kyiv with a promise to train Ukrainian pilots to fly Nato-suitable airplane.

Here we have a look at what aircrafts are available and how they might help Ukraine’s defence.