Russian missiles slam into cities of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia

Russian missiles slam into cities of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia destroying ‘infrastructure’ and a SCHOOL – as Putin’s brutal mission to terrorise civilians continues

• Russian missiles hit cities of Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv around 8am Friday 
• ‘Infrastructure’ was targeted along with residential buildings and a school 
• Nine people were hurt but fortunately it appears that nobody was killed 
• Putin’s military has been terrorising civilians with long-range missile strikes in an attempt to break their will to continue war as his army is pushed back 

Russian missiles slammed into two Ukrainian cities early on Friday as Vladimir Putin continues his brutal campaign to terrorise civilians into giving up on the war.

Kharkiv, the country’s second city, and Zaporizhzhia were struck shortly after 8am local time with targets including ‘infrastructure’, a school and residential buildings.  

At least nine people were wounded in the attacks but it appears nobody was killed, local officials said.

A Russian cruise missile is shot down over the city of Zaporizhzhia on Friday morning as Putin’s army continues to attack Ukraine’s cities

Ukraine’s air defence opens fire with a Russian S300 defence system as it tries to stop missile attacks on its cities and critical infrastructure

It is unclear what ‘infrastructure’ was hit, but Putin’s military is currently hitting energy and water facilities in an attempt to freeze Ukrainians as winter approaches.

Oleksandr Starukh, head of the Zaporizhzhia regional administration, said on Telegram that Russian S300 anti-aircraft missiles had destroyed ‘a residential building and infrastructure facilities’ in the city.

He said: ‘According to preliminary information, there are no casualties. There are three wounded.

‘As a result of the attack, the gas system was damaged in a residential high-rise building, there was a fire, and a wall was destroyed.

‘The occupier also targeted a school in one of Zaporizhzhia’s districts. The roof of the school was damaged and the windows were broken.

‘There were also hits on infrastructure facilities and open areas.’

Meanwhile Oleg Synegubov, head of the Kharkiv administration, said missiles had struck ‘industrial infrastructure’ in the north of the city.

He said: ‘Six people were injured. Information about the destruction and victims is being clarified.’

Putin is almost eight months into a war he intended to last days and end with Ukraine being returned to Russia’s ‘sphere of influence’. 

Instead, he is in control of less than a fifth of the country and is being forced backwards on two fronts – both north and south.

A devastating counter-attack out of Kharkiv routed his troops back in September and led to Ukraine recapturing thousands of square miles of territory in just a few days,

Rapid advances have also taken place in Kherson, in the south of the country, where Ukrainian troops are now bearing down on the city itself.

Sergei Surovikin, Putin’s new commander in Ukraine, has been preparing Russians for a retreat from the city – saying the situation is ‘tense’ and he refuses to rule out making ‘the most difficult decisions’.

Losing Kherson, the only regional capital taken during this war, would be the most-humiliating loss that Putin and his armed forces have yet faced.

The city is the only toe-hold that Russian forces have on the west bank of the Dnipro River, and is a key stepping-stone on the road to Odesa.

Putin’s generals have previously said that capturing the Black Sea port city and denying Ukraine access to its coastal trading routes was a key aim of the war.

Repair crews work to restore a power facility in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv after it was blown up by Russia, as his military targets power facilities

A man cleans up the balcony of an apartment of a residential building that was heavily damaged after a Russian attack last week in Zaporizhzhia

In an attempt to hold on to the city, Ukraine says some 2,000 Russian conscripts have been moved into the area in recent days.

Some of Putin’s best battlefield units are also stationed there.

However, Ukraine also says that Russian forces have booby-trapped the Nova Kakhovka dam – around 40 miles upstream from Kherson – likely as an insurance policy in case the city falls.

The Institute for the Study of War, a respected think-tank, said blowing the dam – which would flood dozens of towns and villages – would provide cover for a Russian retreat across the river.

It would also further damage Ukraine’s power network, and – by blaming the attack on Ukraine – would provide Russia’s hardline media commentators something else to discuss other than the army’s retreat. 

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