Russian attacks injure 18 in Ukraine, energy sites targeted

New Delhi, Mar 7: At least 18 people, including four children, were injured in a Russian attack overnight, Ukrainian officials say. Russia also targeted energy and gas infrastructure, which Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, says is essential for daily life.

Officials in the cities of Odesa and Kharkiv report that the attacks caused damage to infrastructure and set homes on fire. Ukraine’s energy minister has accused Russia of deliberately trying to harm civilians.

For the first time, Ukraine used French Mirage fighter jets to repel the attack. France had promised the jets last June, and they arrived in February after Ukrainian pilots completed their training. Zelensky thanked France for supplying both Mirage-2000 and F-16 jets, saying they have been effective against Russian cruise missiles. Zelensky stressed that real peace must begin with "silence in the skies" and "silence at sea." He wrote that Ukraine has wanted peace from the very beginning of the war, but Russia must be forced to stop its aggression. Russia has denied that its latest attack was a response to a ceasefire proposal by French President Emmanuel Macron. The assault comes shortly after the US suspended military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.