Ukraine war: Russia targets Ukraine with one of the largest aerial attacks, says Kyiv

Ukrainian Foreign Minister AndriiSybiha said on Sunday (Nov 17) that Russia pounded Ukraine with one of the largest aerial attacks that targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

"Russia launched one of the largest air attacks: drones and missiles against peaceful cities, sleeping civilians, critical infrastructure," Foreign Minister Sybiha said.

Ukraine forced to cut power in Kyiv, 2 other regions

Ukraine was forced to cut power in the capital city of Kyiv and two other regions in the east, a report by the news agency AFP said.

"Emergency power cuts in Kyiv, in the Kyiv region, in the Donetsk region, in the Dnipropetrovsk region," the country's energy operator DTEK said in a post on Telegram.

Earlier, Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko said that Russian forces were attacking"electricity generation and transmission facilities throughout the country."

AFP reported that explosions were heard early Sunday in Kyivand close to Sloviansk in the Donetsk region.

'Russia destroyed half of Ukraine's energy production capacity'

Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Russian offensive destroyed half of the country'senergy production capacity.

The war between Russia and Ukraine has been going on since late February 2022.

Also watch | World Business Watch: The cost of the Russia-Ukraine war

Kyiv has implored its Western allies for help in rebuilding its energy grid, and to supply its military with more aerial defence weapons.

Sunday's attack came as Ukraine braces for another unforgiving winter. The war-torn country is already facing major energy shortfalls.

(With inputs from agencies)