Ukraine-Russia war latest: Biden gives Zelensky go ahead to use US long-range missiles against Russia
Vladimir Putin warned the decision to allow US long-range missiles to strike targets deep within Russia would be an act of war
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Your support makes all the difference.Joe Biden has authorised Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles to strike hundreds of miles inside Russia for the first time, according to reports.
The decision is a major US policy shift and comes after Russia warned that Moscow would see the move to allow the use of US-made missiles “as a major escalation”.
With Biden leaving office in two months President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to limit American support for Ukraine and end the war as soon as possible.
In September Vladimir Putin warned the decision would be an act of war back when reports emerged that Joe Biden was “working out” the possibility of US long-range missiles being used inside Russia.
It came as a “massive” Russian missile attack,dubbed the largest air attack on Ukraine in months, has killed at least seven people and injured at least 19, according to Ukrainian officials.
The strikes targeted vital energy infrastructure as temperatures hit sub-zero in the war-torn country.
Zelenskyy says Russia has launched 120 missiles and 90 drones targeting Ukraine's infrastructure
Zelenskyy says Russia has launched 120 missiles and 90 drones targeting Ukraine's infrastructure
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that Russia has launched 120 missiles and 90 drones in a large-scale attack across Ukraine targeting its energy infrastructure
Polish air force scrambles jets to face Russian drone attacks
Poland and its allies carried out an air operation in response to a large-scale Russian missile attack on western Ukraine.
The Polish military says “regular pairs of fighter jets have been scrambled, and ground-based air defence and radar systems have been placed on high alert”, according to a statement from the Polish armed forces via Ukrainska Pravda.
“Attention, the operation of Polish and allied aircraft in our airspace has begun due to a large-scale attack by the Russian Federation, which has launched cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles against targets located, in particular, in western Ukraine,” the statement adds.
“The Operational Command is monitoring the current situation, and the subordinate assets and personnel remain in full readiness for immediate response.”
At least three killed overnight in Russian drone attacks
Two railway workers have been killed in a Russian drone attack on a depot in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Three other railway workers were also injured in the attacks, according to Ukrainska Pravda.
A 66-year-old woman was killed in in her car in the Chervonohrad district of the Lviv region after the fall of Russian missile wreckage. Two other men were injured in the attack, with one taken to hospital.
The main heating pipe in the area was damaged, leaving 6,000 people without heating, and 12 garages caught fire amid the bombardment.
Ukraine’s largest energy provider reports ‘serious damage’ after drone attacks
Russian strikes on Ukraine have “seriously damaged” equipment at the thermal power stations owned by the country’s largest energy provider, the company said on Sunday.
Employees are working on repairing the equipment, DTEK said on social media, but it did not specify what had been hit.
In pictures: Ukraine reels from largest drone attack in months
More than 200 drones and missiles launched in ‘massive’ attack, Zelensky says
Russia launched around 120 missiles and 90 drones in a “massive” strike on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday morning.
“The enemy’s target was our energy infrastructure throughout Ukraine. Unfortunately, there is damage to objects from strikes and falling debris,” he said in a statement on social media.
“As of now, some areas remain without power, but all necessary forces are working to mitigate the consequences and restore the infrastructure,” he added.
Ukraine struck by ‘largest air attack’, says foreign minister
Russian forces have launched one of the “largest air attacks” in months, targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as temperatures hit sub-zero in some areas.
“Russia launched one of the largest air attacks: drones and missiles against peaceful cities, sleeping civilians, critical infrastructure,” said foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said on Sunday morning.
He added that the strike was the “true response” to the leaders who had interacted with Vladimir Putin, in an apparent swipe at German chancellor Olaf Scholz who has been criticised by Kyiv for holding a phone call with Putin on Friday.
A series of powerful blasts were heard in Kyiv’s city centre as Russia seeks to inflict crippling damage on power supplies, with overnight temperatures going below freezing in the capital.
"Another massive attack on the power system is under way. The enemy is attacking electricity generation and transmission facilities throughout Ukraine," Ukrainian energy minister German Galushchenko wrote on Facebook.
Ukraine struck by ‘largest air attack’, says foreign minister
Russian forces have launched one of the “largest air attacks” in months, targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as temperatures hit sub-zero in some areas.
“Russia launched one of the largest air attacks: drones and missiles against peaceful cities, sleeping civilians, critical infrastructure,” said foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said on Sunday morning.
He added that the strike was the “true response” to the leaders who had interacted with Vladimir Putin, in an apparent swipe at German chancellor Olaf Scholz who has been criticised by Kyiv for holding a phone call with Putin on Friday.
A series of powerful blasts were heard in Kyiv’s city centre as Russia seeks to inflict crippling damage on power supplies, with overnight temperatures going below freezing in the capital.
"Another massive attack on the power system is under way. The enemy is attacking electricity generation and transmission facilities throughout Ukraine," Ukrainian energy minister German Galushchenko wrote on Facebook.
Ukraine must ensure the war ends through diplomacy, says Zelensky
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine must ensure the war with Russia ends next year through diplomacy.
Mr Zelensky accepted in a radio interview on Saturday that the situation on the eastern Ukrainian front is difficult as Russia continues to advance in key areas.
US legislation prevents the president from meeting with US president-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration in January - but Mr Zelensky has said he will only talk with Trump himself rather than an advisor.
“I, as the president of Ukraine, will only take seriously a conversation with the president of the United States of America, with all due respect to any entourage, to any people.”
“From our side, we must do everything so that this war ends next year, ends through diplomatic means,” Mr Zelensky said.
Where has Russia made advances on the frontline in Ukraine?
Ukrainian forces defending the eastern region of Donetsk are heading into the “moment of maximum tension” as Russian forces rush to take territory across Ukraine ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration next year, war monitors have claimed.
Mr Trump’s comprehensive victory in the US election, which came off the back of his promises to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours, has brought into sharp relief the difficult situation on the frontline for Kyiv.
Russian forces have continued to make gains in the eastern region of Donetsk, advancing along several fronts towards the city of Pokrovsk, a linchpin of the wider area’s defence.
Tom Watling has more.
Mapped: Where has Russia made advances on the frontline in Ukraine?
Ukraine’s military say the hottest fighting along the roughly 640-mile frontline is taking place along multiple points in Donetsk
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