Dozens of people were injured in widespread Russian drone and missile attacks across Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday, reporting damage in eight regions.

Energy infrastructure was again a primary target.

Mr Zelensky said that the gas facilities in the Poltava region were hit, along with substations in the Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

According to the president, Russia launched 420 drones and 39 missiles, including 11 ballistic missiles.

Ukrainian air defences intercepted most of them, he said, crediting Western-supplied systems for bolstering protection.

In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said that 16 people were injured, including two minors.

Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that one residential building was struck and another destroyed.

Further south in Zaporizhzhya, Governor Ivan Fedorov said at least eight people were injured, including an eight-year-old boy.

Authorities reported damage to 19 residential buildings and two shopping centres following drone, missile and glide bomb attacks.

In Kryvyi Rih, Mr Zelensky’s hometown, regional officials reported two additional injuries after drone and artillery strikes.

Ukraine has been defending against Russia’s full-scale invasion for more than four years, with military and financial support from Western allies.

Ukrainian and U.S. representatives are scheduled to meet in Geneva to discuss reconstruction efforts and preparations for a possible trilateral meeting involving a Russian delegation. 

(Xinhua/NAN)