“`html
KYIV, Ukraine — A Russian missile equipped with cluster munitions targeted a residential area in the northern city of Sumy, resulting in the deaths of 11 individuals, including two children, and leaving 84 others injured, according to local officials on Monday.
The regional prosecutor’s office reported that the deceased children were a 9-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl. Furthermore, it indicated that six of the injured children are currently in critical condition.
The missile strike damaged 15 structures, encompassing two educational institutions, as authorities continued search and rescue operations into Monday. This incident marks a somber milestone coinciding with the nearing of 1,000 days since the onset of the war.
Located 40 kilometers (around 24 miles) from the Russian border, Sumy has been a focal point for tensions. On the same day as the attack, U.S. President Joe Biden made a significant decision by authorizing the use of U.S.-supplied longer-range missiles by Ukraine for strikes inside Russia, following prolonged advocacy from Ukrainian officials.
These newly supplied weapons are expected to counter North Korea’s recent decision to send troops in support of Russia, particularly in the Kursk region, where Ukraine had previously instigated military actions during the summer. This marks the second occasion the U.S. has granted allowances for the use of Western weaponry on Russian soil, having previously permitted limited usage of HIMARS systems in May to halt the Russian advance in Ukraine’s Kharkiv sector.
Ukraine’s initial response to this anticipated decision from the U.S. was notably measured. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remarked, “Today, much is being said in the media about us receiving permission for the relevant actions. But strikes are not made with words. Such things are not announced. The missiles will speak for themselves,” during his nightly video address.
Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy detailed that Russia had launched 120 missiles and 90 drones in a comprehensive offensive across Ukraine, including in Sumy. He noted that various drone types were employed, including Iranian-made Shaheds, alongside cruise and ballistic missiles.
This attack aimed primarily at undermining Ukraine’s energy infrastructure comes at a time when anxiety surrounds Moscow’s intentions to cripple Ukraine’s power generation capabilities as winter approaches. According to Ukraine’s air force, defenses managed to intercept 144 out of 210 aerial threats.
“The enemy’s target was our energy infrastructure throughout Ukraine. Unfortunately, there is damage to objects from hits and falling debris. In Mykolaiv, two people lost their lives and six others, including two children, were injured due to a drone attack,” Zelenskyy confirmed.
Additionally, two fatalities were reported in the Odesa region, where the missile strike affected energy infrastructure and disrupted power and water supplies. Local Governor Oleh Kiper confirmed that both deceased individuals worked for Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s state-owned power operator.
This drone and missile assault is considered one of the most forceful in three months, according to Serhii Popko, the head of Kyiv’s City Military Administration. In Kyiv, one person sustained injuries from a fire that broke out on the roof of a five-story residential building, as reported by Popko.
DTEK, a private energy firm, noted that a thermal power plant it operates sustained “serious damage.” Russian attacks have consistently battered Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, leading to frequent emergency shutdowns and widespread blackouts. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly called upon Western allies for enhanced air defense systems to mitigate these assaults and facilitate ongoing repairs.
On Sunday, Russia’s Defense Ministry admitted to executing a large-scale missile and drone offensive targeting “critical energy infrastructure” in Ukraine, claiming that all targeted sites were connected to Kyiv’s military operations.
While Ukraine’s nuclear plants were not directly impacted, several vital electrical substations supporting them have suffered additional damage, according to a statement from the U.N.’s nuclear energy watchdog. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that only two of Ukraine’s nine operational reactors are currently functioning at full capacity.
On the Russian side, military forces claimed to have intercepted and destroyed 59 Ukrainian drones overnight across various regions, with some downed in areas surrounding Moscow and others in the Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod regions bordering Ukraine, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin noted that the drones shot down near the capital were indeed headed toward Moscow.
“`
