Ukraine accuses Russia of

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned on Thursday that a Russian missile and drone attack on Ukrainian power plants had endangered nuclear security. Russia has hit Ukrainian energy facilities and other civil infrastructure as part of its ongoing large scale invasionand the latest attack on Thursday included more than 650 drones and 50 missiles, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Ukrainian authorities said at least six people were killed in the attacks, including a 7-year-old girl, and that the 18 people injured included children between the ages of 2 and 16. The attack also caused power outages and restrictions across the country.

The targets included the southern Ukraine nuclear power plant and those in Khmelnitsky and Rivne, which reported damage to “substations critical for nuclear safety in Ukraine,” the IAEA said in a statement Thursday.

“The dangers to nuclear security remain very real and ever-present,” warned IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi amid the ongoing attacks. “I once again call for maximum military restraint in the vicinity of nuclear facilities.”

Zelenskyy, in a statement on social media, said Russian forces had attacked civilians and energy facilities in nine regions and the capital, kyiv.

“We are counting on the United States, Europe and the G7 countries not to ignore Moscow’s intention to destroy everything,” he said. calling for more sanctions to Pressure Russia to end its invasion..

National electricity operator Ukrenergo said the attack had put its power system in a “difficult situation” and that power cuts would last across the country until Thursday night, just as the cold winter begins to take effect. “24-hour” blackouts will also be introduced in all regions on Friday, Ukrenergo said.

“Russia continues its systematic energy terrorism, attacking the lives, dignity and warmth of Ukrainians on the eve of winter. Their goal is to plunge Ukraine into darkness; ours is to keep the light on,” said Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. “To stop this terrorism, Ukraine needs more air defense systems, tougher sanctions and maximum pressure on (Russia).”

The Russian Defense Ministry said a “massive” missile and drone attack was launched against Ukrainian military-industrial sites, energy infrastructure and air bases.

Meanwhile, the ministry said it had shot down 170 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 48 in the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine and nine in the region surrounding the capital Moscow.

President Trump has attempted to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine since returning to the White House in January, but talks have made little progress.