Nationwide air strike
At roughly 14:00 Moscow time, an air raid alert issued across Ukraine signaled widespread danger. Even before the official alert, authorities and media reported rocket strikes targeting multiple cities. The earliest confirmations came from officials in Sumy, Poltava, Dnepropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, and Odessa regions. An infrastructure facility in Odessa endured a strike, while air defense systems maneuvered in Dnepropetrovsk, Poltava, and Odessa. Vitaly Kim, governor of the Nikolaev region, described five rockets launched from airspace above Mariupol, later clarifying that the missiles appeared to originate from the south and east. Observations near Ochakov suggested a broader pattern of strikes across the region. This episode followed warnings from Kyiv region authorities about a high likelihood of renewed missile activity and urged residents to seek shelter. Local residents on social media noted missiles heading toward western Ukraine, prompting the mayor of Lviv to reinforce sheltering precautions. (Reuters)
Unlit Kyiv
By about 15:00, Telegram channels indicated that air defense systems were active around the capital. Kyiv soon experienced explosions reported by residents in areas such as Lesnoy and Lukyanovka-Dorohozhychi. The aftermath included power and water outages along the left bank of the Dnieper. Photos and videos depicted towering plumes of smoke across the city. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko confirmed an attack on an infrastructure facility. Ukrenergo warned of emergency power outages and said the schedule would be shared only once stability returned. Klitschko noted widespread explosions, with medical and emergency services rushing to sites. (BBC)
With utilities disrupted, Telegram updates described disruption to mobile networks and the internet in several regions. Reports cited at least three fatalities and nine injuries from the strikes. Shortly after, Klitschko announced a citywide water shutdown. Kyivvodokanal engineers were deployed to restore water as soon as possible, while residents were advised to stock up on water. Regional authorities noted that nearby infrastructure and homes had been hit, and fire crews responded to a blaze in Vyshgorod. The metro system suspended service as a precaution, with many residents seeking shelter in stations. The prevailing weather included sleet and freezing rain, complicating response efforts. (The Guardian)
Which areas are still without electricity?
In the aftermath, Lviv mayor Andriy Sadovoy reported the city without power and warned of possible water interruptions as maintenance crews prepared to respond. The Odessa region faced a temporary grid outage, and power units at the South Ukrainian nuclear plant near Nikolaev and at Khmelnytsky were shut down as a precaution, while the Rivne nuclear plant entered emergency operation. Energoatom later clarified that the South Ukrainian plant was not damaged; power unit shutdowns occurred due to collapsed transmission lines, and electricity remained unavailable in many districts. Local officials noted halted metro and electric transport in Kharkiv, with extra buses dispatched. Train movements slowed as Ukrainian Railways reported power cuts across Dnipro, Nikolaev, Lviv, Vinnytsia, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions, and the company paused perimeter trains in the capital. Repair teams and emergency services prepared to address damage as soon as airstrikes ended, with the possibility of ongoing outages for up to 24 hours. By 16:00 Moscow time, the air raid alert began to rise again. (AP)