Russia rains down scores of missiles on Ukraine in fresh assault on cities

Russia targets energy supplies, causing power cuts in freezing weather, in one of the fiercer attacks of the war

Cities across Ukraine have been targeted by a wave of missile strikes, in one of the heaviest bombardments since Russia’s president Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine.

Russian forces dispatched explosive drones to selected regions before broadening the barrage with air and sea-based cruise missiles “launched from strategic aircraft and ships”, the Ukrainian air force said. Cities from Lviv in the west to Kharkiv in the east were included in the assault.

Ukraine’s military said it had shot down 54 missiles out of 69 launched by Russia. Earlier, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, claimed more than 120 missiles were launched. Power stations and other critical infrastructure were targeted – something which has become a regular feature of Russia’s attacks.