Deadly Russian missile strike causes Ukraine power cuts

Russian forces have stepped up attacks on Ukraine around the turn of the year. (AP PHOTO)

A Russian missile attack on the city of Kropyvnytskyi in central Ukraine has killed one person, damaged two energy facilities and caused power outages for civilians and on the railway, Ukrainian officials say.

One of the objects hit was a repair and production facility, Ukraine's grid operator Ukrenergo said on the Telegram messaging app.

"The damage did not cause any failures in the main network," Ukrenergo added.

It was not immediately clear what other type of facility had come under attack but it was connected to another energy operator.

In a separate statement, the energy ministry said repair crews were working to restore power supplies for domestic consumers and the railway that were cut as a result of the attack.

Russia probably used an X-59 missile, the regional governor Andriy Raikovych said at a briefing.

"Ordinary working people were injured... One worker, unfortunately, died. A simple car mechanic," he said.

At least seven people were wounded, official data indicated. 

Raikovych added on the Telegram messaging app that all those hurt had suffered shrapnel wounds.

Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukraine around the turn of the year, launching hundreds of missiles of different types and "Shahed" drones since December 29.

Ukraine's air force said on Thursday it conducted a strike on a Russian command post near the occupied city of Sevastopol and also hit a military unit in a separate strike on the Crimean peninsula.

Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk posted a video from social media on the Telegram messenging app showing smoke rising from an explosion near Sevastopol, a Crimean port that serves as the main headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Ukrainian forces have seized the initiative in Crimea.

"Thanks again to the air force pilots and everyone who planned the operation for perfect combat work," he said.

He also published a screenshot of a social media post saying that a Russian military base in the city of Yevpatoria had been hit in a strike.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-installed governor of Sevastopol, described the attack as "the most massive in recent times".

One person was hospitalised after a piece of shrapnel struck a house, he wrote on Telegram.

Reuters could not independently verify the reports.

Russia's defence ministry said its forces had foiled a Ukrainian attack, destroying 10 incoming missiles over the peninsula.

The Strategic Communications Department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said a Russian command post had been hit at 3pm near Sevastopol.

Ukraine has stepped up its attacks on the Crimean peninsula, which was seized and annexed by Russia in 2014, seeking to destroy Russian military capabilities and force its fleet to pull back from the Black Sea.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said UKraine has managed to seize the initiative from Russia in the area.

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