Russia fired almost a dozen Shahed drones against Ukrainian targets and falling debris from an intercepted drone damaged power lines near a nuclear plant in the country's west, knocking out electricity to hundreds of people, officials said Wednesday. Ukraine's air force said it stopped all the drones that were launched.Members of the Siberian Battalion of the Ukraine's Armed Forces International Legion attend military exercises at an undisclosed location in Kyiv region on Tuesday.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Kherson, Ukraine, in November last year. Looming wintry weather could further hamper battlefield movements in a conflict that is largely deadlocked and compel the warring sides to focus more on long-range strikes. "This year we will not only defend ourselves, but also respond,'' Zelenskyy said. "The enemy knows this well.''
The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think-tank, said Russia "is likely trying to expand and diversify its arsenal of drones, missiles and guided bombs for strikes against Ukrainian critical infrastructure'' ahead of the change in weather. Russian news reports have mentioned one such drone, Italmas, which reportedly has a range of about 200 kilometres, allowing Moscow's forces to strike targets far beyond the front line. Another is an upgraded version of the Lancet drone. It has an extended range compared to its previous version, which has been used extensively on the battlefield.