Zelensky accuses Russia of using North Korean missiles in attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of using KN-23 ballistic missiles manufactured and supplied by North Korea in the massive attacks launched overnight from Friday to Saturday against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Technical assessments of the sites hit are continuing.

According to the Ukrainian military, Russia launched 36 ballistic missiles and 172 drones. The attacks caused disruptions to electricity supplies in the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kyiv, Zhytomyr and Kharkiv regions.

Ukraine’s Energy Ministry announced that transmission and distribution networks had been severely affected, without specifying the number of households left without power. Recent attacks have caused significant damage to the energy sector and infrastructure, particularly in the capital.

Authorities in Kyiv fear further disruptions to electricity, heating and water supplies during the winter. Zelensky says the intensification of the bombardment is intended to pressure Ukraine and its allies ahead of the trilateral meeting scheduled for November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi between representatives of Kyiv, Washington and Moscow. The meeting is expected to seek to revive stalled negotiations.