Ukraine updates: Russia strikes infrastructure nationwide

The air raid warning in Kyiv lasted for five hours

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reiterated his calls for military aid while attending the Three Seas Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

It comes as Ukrainian authorities reported attacks in major cities including Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa.

The attacks hit a number of power stations and other key energy infrastructure. There were no immediate reports of casualties

Ukraine’s parliament also passed a law that makes it easier to conscript new soldiers, after thousands of amendments were added over several months.

Here’s a look at the Ukraine-related developments for Thursday, April 11

Zelenskyy arrives in Lithuania for Three Seas Summit

Ukrainian President Volodymry Zelenskyy arrived in Lithuania on Thursday to meet with Central and Eastern European leaders at the Three Seas Summit.

Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda. The two countries plan to sign a bilateral security agreement.

“The main task for now is to make every effort to strengthen our air defense system, to meet the urgent needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, and to consolidate international support so that we can overcome Russian terror,” Zelenskyy said on social media.

Three Seas Initiative is a regional alliance set up by EU member states that situated between the Baltic, Black and Adriatic seas. Ukraine and Moldova became involved in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Russian missiles target regions across Ukraine

Russia launched a fresh wave of attacks across Ukraine overnight, including in Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Kharkiv and Lviv, Ukrainian authorities said.

“Overnight, Russia fired more than 40 missiles and 40 drones at Ukraine,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media.

“Some missiles and ‘Shahed’ drones were successfully shot down. Unfortunately, only a part of them.”

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The head of the Kyiv administration, Ruslan Kravchenko, said an air raid alert lasted for five hours in the city.

“Tonight the area was massively attacked with kamikaze drones and missiles,” he said.

The strikes completely destroyed the Trypilska power station outside Kyiv, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.

Ukraine’s Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said hundreds of rescuers had been deployed across the country after the “massive shelling.”

“For several hours, the Russian military attacked five regions of Ukraine, hitting critical infrastructure,” he said.

Energy company DTEK said two of its power stations were hit, while authorities in Lviv said a gas distribution facility and an electric substation had also been attacked.

Zelenskyy called on Ukraine’s Western partners not to “turn a blind eye” and to provide more air defense systems.

zc, dh/wd (AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters)