'Massive' Russian attack hits Ukraine's electrical grid

Ukraine says that Russia attacked its energy plants in a "massive" way overnight. It is the latest attack on the country's power grid.

Ukraine's energy ministry said this is the eighth time Russia has attacked energy assets in the last three months.

Russia fired 16 missiles and 13 drones at different parts of Ukraine overnight. The Ukrainian air force said that air defense systems shot down 12 of the rockets and all 13 drones.

Later on Saturday, police in Kharkiv, which is in the northeast of Ukraine, said that Russian-directed bombs killed two people and hurt at least 18. At least four blasts were heard in the city.

Officials say that overnight attacks on energy infrastructure hurt two energy workers in the central Zaporizhzhia region and broke energy equipment in the western city of Lviv.

The officials also said homes and a school were damaged southwest of Ivano-Frankivsk.

Russia has resumed its attacks on Ukrainian energy targets in the spring and early summer, which has led to regular power outages across the country. As of late, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Moscow had destroyed half of his country's ability to make power since it started attacking its energy centers in late March.

This week, the second attack on energy assets was on Saturday night.

On Thursday, the Ukrainian government said that a big attack overnight had hurt seven workers and destroyed energy facilities, such as a power station.

Ukraine gets some energy from the EU, but more is needed to make the difference.

It means there will be a planned national blackout on most days to protect important buildings like hospitals and military bases.

"We need to close our skies right away, or Ukraine will be in a serious crisis this winter," Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK, one of Ukraine's most prominent private energy companies, said.

My friends please help us protect our energy system and get back on our feet on time.

Mr. Zelensky has often asked Ukraine's partners to send more air defence weapons. He has asked the US to send him seven high-tech air defense weapons called Patriots.

The governor of Zaporizhzhia, Ivan Fedorov, replied to Mr. Zelensky's message on Telegram early Saturday morning.

"One thing is certain: the enemy will not give up. "Ukraine needs systems to protect its airspace," he said.

The spokesperson for the US National Security Council, John Kirby, said on Thursday that Ukraine would get Patriot missiles before any other country that has bought them.