Ukraine under attack: wave of missiles, infrastructure under siege, international reactions.

Ukraine has suffered one of the most devastating air strikes since the start of the conflict with Russia, described by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andryi Sybiha as “one of the most powerful” ever launched by Moscow. The offensive hit the entire country in a coordinated manner, using drones, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles, bringing the country's energy infrastructure to its knees and causing serious damage in several regions.

The scope of the attack

In the past few hours, about 120 Russian missiles and 90 drones, including the feared Iranian-made Shahed drones, have been launched at Ukrainian territory. Kiev's air defenses have intercepted and destroyed more than 140 of these devices, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, but the damage was still significant. "The enemy's targets were energy infrastructure throughout the country," Zelensky said on his Telegram channel.

The aftermath of the attack was felt in Kiev, where drone debris hit an apartment building, injuring at least one person, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Meanwhile, explosions were reported in several cities, including Zaporizhia, Odessa, Mykolaiv and Chernihiv.

Due to the extent and severity of the damage, the Ukrainian government has announced restrictions on electricity distribution, which are already in place in the capital and the most affected regions, such as Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk. Energy Minister German Galushchenko confirmed that electricity generation and transmission facilities were among the main targets and that technical teams are busy repairing the infrastructure.

Nuclear Risk and International Response

The attack has also raised concerns about nuclear safety. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has raised the alarm, noting that Ukrainian nuclear power plants have had to reduce their energy production for precautionary reasons. Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said that this situation “puts nuclear safety under further pressure”.

The international community did not sit idly by. Poland responded immediately, scrambling its fighter jets and mobilizing all available forces to monitor the eastern border. The Polish Operational Command emphasized cooperation with NATO allies in responding to the growing threat.

G7 commitment and EU support

Ukrainian President Zelensky continues to call on Western partners to help keep the country’s resilience high. During the G7 summit, leaders reiterated their support for Kiev, promising to continue providing economic, military and humanitarian aid. “We will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in an interview in Brazil.

Ahead of the thousandth day of war, Zelensky has set an ambitious goal: “To end the conflict in 2025 through diplomacy, but starting with a strong Ukraine.” However, the Ukrainian leader has ruled out any negotiations that would imply capitulation or acceptance of Vladimir Putin’s conditions.

The uncertainties of the future

Despite international support, the challenges for Kiev remain enormous. Zelensky admitted that the Ukrainian armed forces are under pressure: "The troops are tired, and replacements are delayed due to the lack of arms deliveries from partners." Europe, which has so far supported the conflict with aid of about 20 billion euros, finds itself having to consider a greater economic commitment in the event of a decline in American support, especially with the possible return of Donald Trump to the White House.