Ukraine-Russia war – live: Toddler’s body pulled from rubble as air strikes death toll rises

Search continues for survivors of wave of missile attacks on Friday, as Putin targets energy infrastructure

Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine war would not continue if Vladimir Putin died

A toddler’s body has been removed from rubble following a wave of deadly airstrikes in Ukraine on Friday.

Emergency crews are continuing to search for survivors after Russian missiles tore through an apartment building in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih.

The missile was one of what Ukrainian authorities said were 16 that got through air defenses in the latest Russian attack targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

The mayor of Kyiv announced today his city’s metro system is operational once again and residents have regained access to water.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said while heat has been restored to half the city and electricity has been restored to two-thirds, emergency outages are still being implemented due to the significant deficit of electricity.

Four people were killed in Russia’s attacks in which over 70 missiles were launched targeting key energy infrastructure in Ukraine.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address that Vladimir Putin had the means to order several similar waves of attacks to drain the country’s energy system.

Key Points

• Russia has stocks to strike big again – Zelensky
• Key infrastructure hit across Ukraine in Russian missile attacks
• Kharkiv without power, heating and water after Russian shelling
• Putin ramps up nuclear threat
• EU approves new sanctions against Russia over Ukraine war

[17 December 2022 20:00 · Liam James]

Man killed in Russian shelling in Kherson, Ukraine says

A 36-year-old man has been killed inside his car after Russian forces shelled the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, the regional governor said.

Yaroslav Yanushevych wrote on his Telegram channel that Russian troops had struck a western district of the city with artillery and multiple rocket launchers, also injuring a 70-year-old woman.

Ukrainian forces liberated the city from Russian occupation on 11 November but officials say Kremlin forces have continued shelling it from positions on the other side of the Dnipro River.

The governor of another Ukrainian region said earlier on Saturday that rescue workers had recovered the body of a one-year-old boy from the rubble of Russian strike on a residential building Friday morning.

[17 December 2022 21:00 · Liam James]

UN car hit by deadly gunfire likely strayed off main road in Lebanon’s blackouts

A United Nations car that came under fire in south Lebanon leaving one Irish peacekeeper dead, probably took a wrong turn in the dark and became separated from its convoy, an official has said (Bel Trew writes).

Irish citizen Private Sean Rooney, 24, serving as part of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (Unifil), died from a bullet wound to his head after seven projectiles pierced the car he was travelling in during a routine run to Beirut airport.

Investigations are underway into the attack, which took place on Wednesday evening.

Irish defence minister Simon Coveney told national broadcaster RTE that Private Rooney’s vehicle was surrounded by “a hostile mob” as it entered the southern coastal town of al-Aqbiyeh which is located off the main highway to the capital.

He said shots were fired and the peacekeeper – a member of the 27 Infantry Battalion – was killed. Another soldier was critically injured and two others lightly injured.