Russia fires barrage of missiles targeting Ukraine’s energy sites

Russia launched a total of 100 projectiles overnight targeting energy sites across Ukraine in a fresh salvo, the Ukrainian officials said on Saturday (June 1).

Russia has fired hundreds of missiles in its air offensive targeting Ukraine's power facilities since the war broke out, causing significant energy shortages and damage.

"The enemy launched 53 missiles of various types and 47 attack drones," the air force said, adding that it shot down 35 of the missiles and all but one of the drones.

The DTEK operator said that two thermal power plants were damaged in Moscow's assault, without mentioning details about their exact location.

"It was another extremely difficult night for the Ukrainian energy sector. The enemy struck two of our thermal power plants. The equipment was seriously damaged," the company said in a statement on Telegram.

This was the sixth major attack on DTEK thermal power plants since mid-March, the statement added.

'Russia targeted sites in five regions,'says Ukraine's Energy Minister

Russia's air offensive targeted sites in five regions, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovograd, Ivano-Frankivsk and Zaporizhzhia, stretching from near the eastern frontlines to Ukraine's west, which borders the European Union, said Ukraine's Energy Minister German Galushchenko.

The ministry further warned that due to the attacks, there would be power restrictions across the country on Saturday evening.

'Moscow exploiting lack of determination among Ukraine's key backers': Zelensky

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Moscow was making attempts to "exploit" the lack of "determination" among Ukraine's key Western backers, reiterating his call for more air defence systems.

"Russia's main goal is to normalise terror, to exploit the lack of sufficient air defence and determination of Ukraine's partners," he said in a social media post.

"This is a test of humanity and determination for the free world. Either we pass this test together, or the world will plunge into even greater destabilisation and chaos," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)