Russians intensified attacks on the south and east of Ukraine

(Patria) - Russian forces targeted infrastructure in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, this morning and carried out multiple strikes on energy infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian authorities announced.

Air raid sirens sounded across most of Ukraine due to intensified attacks in the south and east of the country.

Zaporizhzhia City Council Secretary Anatoliy Kurtiev said the city was hit 17 times in one hour. According to him, this was the most intense series of attacks since the beginning of the Russian invasion.

City authorities in Kharkiv are still trying to determine the number of casualties and the extent of the destruction, and Mayor Ihor Terekhov said there could be disruptions in heating, electricity, and water supply, RSE reports.

Military analysts say Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes that Europe's support for Ukraine will weaken, as Russia is believed to be preparing a new offensive.

Fighting in Ukraine intensified yesterday. Kyiv's military intelligence agency announced that Russian forces launched an offensive in the partially occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, with the aim of taking full control of the entire industrial region, known as Donbas.

Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces in the area since 2014.