Ukraine war: Russia again fires missiles over Moldova in latest strikes
- By Abdujalil Abdurasulov in Kiev and James FitzGerald in London
- BBC News
image source, Getty Images
Residents in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv took shelter in subway stations ahead of Friday’s Russian attack
Russia’s latest airstrike on Ukraine resulted in missiles crossing Moldovan airspace, Ukrainian and Moldovan officials said.
Kiev’s top general said two missiles launched from the Black Sea flew over the neighboring country – something confirmed in Chisinau.
The general also said the missiles crossed through NATO member Romania – something Romania denies.
A Russian government spokesman deflected questions about the incident.
During a regular telephone conversation with journalists, Dmitry Peskov told the BBC that this was a matter for the Defense Ministry, which had yet to comment.
Moldova has summoned the Russian ambassador – after he did the same after a similar incident in October.
Ukraine’s Air Force said Friday’s “massive” attack fired 71 rockets, of which it shot down 61.
As a result, a presidential aide reiterated a call for the West to donate fighter jets and criticized “political hesitation” in supplying his country with new weapons.
The country suffers more power outages after power plants in six regions were attacked.
In the eastern Kharkiv region alone, around 150,000 homes were left without power and seven people were injured, officials said.
Explosions were also heard in Kiev, although the city’s mayor said no one was injured.
Residents have been urged to take shelter in the capital’s subway system. School lessons were held in one station, the Reuters news agency reported.
Other regions, including Kharkiv and Zaporizhia, also came under fire, and the Mykolaiv region governor described at least three “waves” of missiles.
Moscow has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s power plants over the winter. This has been called a war crime by some analysts, although Russia denies willfully harming civilians.
Energy workers in the country have increasingly dangerous jobs – and 98 of them died performing their duties last year, an official recently told Latvian media.
Alexander Kamyshin wrote: “Trains will be delayed, but none will fail. Promised. We are determined.”
The lasting Russian gains made during the war were limited to southern and eastern Ukraine