Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/KYIV: Russian missiles hit power facilities across Ukraine, where Volodymyr Zelenskiy, President of Ukraine, returned from a tour of Western capitals and Ukrainian officials said that the long-awaited Russian offensive was underway in the east.
According to Reuters, Ukraine’s forces said in an evening update that Russian armed forces fired more than 100 missiles and staged 12 air and 20 shelling hits. The Facebook post said that 61 cruise missiles were destroyed.
Russia hit power facilities
German Galushchenko, Energy Minister, said Russia had hit power facilities in six regions with missiles and drones, causing blackouts across most of Ukraine.
The White House said President Biden would travel to Poland from Feb. 20-22 to show support for Kyiv ahead of the first anniversary of Russia’s forces invasion on Feb. 24 and make precise additional security assistance. The fund could be coming from the United States.
“The president could make it very clear that the United States could continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes,” said John Kirby, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council.
International Monetary Fund Staff could meet with Ukrainian officials in Warsaw next week, a source familiar with the plans said that as Ukraine presses for a multi-billion dollar borrowing program to cover its funding needs given the Russia-Ukraine war.
International rating agency Moody’s downgraded Ukraine’s sovereign rating to Ca as it expects the war with Russia to create long-lasting challenges for the country. Moody’s website said that the rating means debt obligations are “likely in, and very near, default.”
The latest Russian attacks came Zelenskiy ended a tour of European partners which he enthusiastically received but has yet to make public promises of the jets he sought.
He said, “London, Brussels, Paris, everywhere I spoke these past few days about how to strengthen our soldiers. There are very important understandings and we received good signals,”.
“This concerns long-range missiles or tanks and the next level of our cooperation – fighter jets.”
Russia repeatedly attacked civilian infrastructure far from the front lines, leaving millions of Ukrainians without power, heat, and water for days in the middle of winter.
The barrages have often followed Ukrainian diplomatic and battlefield advances.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said ten Russian missiles had been shot down over the capital after sirens blared during the morning rush hour and weary civilians took shelter.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Ukraine was without 44% nuclear generation and 75% thermal power capacity.
