South-east Of Ukraine Under Attack As Russia Intensifies Strikes

Russian forces attacked critical infrastructure in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city and launched multiple strikes on energy infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia early Friday, as Moscow increased its attacks in Ukraine's south and east and air raid sirens sounded across the country.

Anatolii Kurtiev, Secretary of the Zaporizhzhia City Council, said the city had been hit 17 times in one hour, making it the most intense period of attacks since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

In Kharkiv, authorities were still trying to determine the number of victims and the extent of the devastation, with Mayor Ihor Terekhov warning that heating, electricity and water supplies could be disrupted.

According to military analysts, Russian President Vladimir Putin is hoping that Europe's support for Ukraine will dwindle, as Russia is preparing a new offensive.

The fighting in Ukraine escalated on Thursday. According to Kyiv's military intelligence agency, Russian forces have launched an offensive in the partially occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions, aiming to seize full control of the entire industrial region known as the Donbas. Since 2014, separatists backed by Moscow have been fighting Ukrainian forces there.