"Difficult night" across Ukraine after Russian air strikes on "residential buildings," Zelensky says
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March 9, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

By Kathleen Magramo, Jack Guy, Aditi Sangal, Adrienne Vogt and Matt Meyer, CNN

Updated 0502 GMT (1302 HKT) March 10, 2023
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5:49 a.m. ET, March 9, 2023

"Difficult night" across Ukraine after Russian air strikes on "residential buildings," Zelensky says

From CNN's Svitlana Vlasova and Radina Gigova

Aftermath of missile attacks in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 9.
Aftermath of missile attacks in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 9. (Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

It has been a "difficult night" in Ukraine as Russian forces launched a barrage of missiles on several regions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Facebook message on Thursday.

The Ukrainian president claims Russian missiles hit "critical infrastructure and residential buildings" across Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipro, Odesa, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zhytomyr and the Vinnytsia regions.

"Unfortunately, there are injured and dead. My condolences to the families," Zelensky said. 

This comes after Ukrainian officials say 81 missiles were fired by the Russian military, as the conflict escalated overnight into Thursday morning.

Zelensky said the Russian assault was "an attempt to intimidate Ukrainians again, returning to their miserable tactics. The occupiers can only terrorize civilians. That's all they can do. But it won’t help them. They won’t avoid responsibility for everything they have done."

Following the strikes 15% of the capital went without electricity temporarily, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said earlier on Telegram. 

Zelensky has since confirmed that "all services" are now working. "The energy system is being restored," he added. 

At least three people were injured in the Russian strike on Ukraine's capital, while in Lviv at least five people have been confirmed dead, officials have said.

7:00 a.m. ET, March 9, 2023

"An attack like I don't remember seeing before": Ukrainian air force spokesman says of overnight strikes

From CNN's Svitlana Vlasova and Radina Gigova

Local residents wait behind a cordon near a multi-storey residential building after a missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 9.
Local residents wait behind a cordon near a multi-storey residential building after a missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 9. (Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images)

Russia's overnight strikes constitute "an attack like I don't remember seeing before," said a spokesman for the Ukrainian air force on Thursday.

As you can see, the attack is really large-scale and for the first time using such different types of missiles," said Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for the Air Force Command of Ukraine, on Ukrainian television.

"We see that this time as many as six Kinzhal were used. This is an attack like I don't remember seeing before," he added. 

"Different types of aircraft were used, strategic, long-range, Mig21. There were 81 missile launches," said Ihnat.

"There were X-22 (missiles), which we can't shoot down, we can't shoot down the Kinzhal either, it's six plus six and 13 S-300 (that haven't been shot down by Ukrainian Air Defense Forces)," he said.

"So far, we have no capabilities to counter these weapons," added Ihnat.

The strikes have reportedly killed at least five people in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, and at least three people were injured in the capital, Kyiv.

3:45 a.m. ET, March 9, 2023

Russia launched 81 missiles at Ukraine overnight, says Ukrainian military chief

From CNN's Svitlana Vlasova and Radina Gigova

Three Russian rockets launched From Russia's Belgorod region are seen at dawn in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on March 9.
Three Russian rockets launched From Russia's Belgorod region are seen at dawn in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on March 9. (Vadim Belikov/AP)

Russia fired 81 missiles of various types overnight into Thursday as it launched a fresh deadly onslaught against Ukraine, the head of the Ukrainian military said.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi said the missiles targeted critical infrastructure.

The missiles included:

  • 28 X-101/X-555 air-launched cruise missiles;
  • 20 Kalibr sea-launched cruise missiles;
  • 6 X-22 air-launched cruise missiles;
  • 6 X-47 Kinzhal air-launched cruise missiles;
  • 8 guided aircraft missiles — 2 X-31P and 6 X-59;
  • 13 S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles.

In addition, eight launches of Iran-made Shahed-136/131 drones were carried out, he said. 

He said Ukrainian forces destroyed 34 out of 48 X-101/X-555, "Kalibr" cruise missiles, eight X-31P and X-59 guided missiles, and four drones.

The strikes killed at least five people in the western city of Lviv and injuries were reported in Kyiv, officials said.

3:11 a.m. ET, March 9, 2023

Kyiv mayor says at least 3 people injured in Russian strike on Ukraine's capital

From CNN’s Svitlana Vlasova

The aftermath of the attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 9.
The aftermath of the attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 9. (Muhammed Enes Yildirim/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

An explosion in western Kyiv has injured at least three people, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram Thursday. 

“As of 08:40 a.m., there are three victims in Svyatoshynskyi district who are being provided with necessary medical care. The explosion also destroyed five cars and damaged 15 others. In addition, the facades of nearby buildings were damaged,” the post read. 

Earlier, Klitschko reported that a series of explosions had hit the Holosiivskyi district in southwestern Kyiv and that roughly 15% of the city was without electricity due to an emergency cut to the power supply.  

3:10 a.m. ET, March 9, 2023

Death toll in Lviv missile strike rises to 5

From CNN’s Svitlana Vlasova

Rescuers work at a site of residential buildings destroyed in Lviv region, Ukraine, on March 9.
Rescuers work at a site of residential buildings destroyed in Lviv region, Ukraine, on March 9. (State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Reuters)

At least five people have now been confirmed dead in Lviv following a Russian missile strike Thursday, according to officials in the the western Ukrainian city.

Maksym Kozytskyi, head of the Lviv regional military administration, said the fifth victim was a man who was found under the rubble after the strike in a residential area in the city's Zolochiv district

Ukrainian officials reported earlier that at least two people were injured in the capital Kyiv after Russian strikes targeted energy facilities in at least seven regions across Ukraine on Thursday.

An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that the Kyiv victims' injuries were fatal. Their condition remains unknown.

2:32 a.m. ET, March 9, 2023

Georgia withdraws "foreign influence" bill that sparked protests and drew comparisons to Ukraine

From CNN's Rhea Mogul

Police in riot gear face protesters in Tbilisi early on March 9.
Police in riot gear face protesters in Tbilisi early on March 9. (Zurab Tsertsvadze/AFP/Getty Images)

Georgia's ruling party has withdrawn a controversial "foreign influence" bill, the country's public broadcaster announced Thursday.

The proposed law sparked two nights of widespread protests in the capital Tbilisi over fears it would drive a wedge between the Caucasian nation and Europe.

The bill had been compared to a draconian set of laws adopted in Russia and condemned by rights groups as a bid to curtail basic freedoms and crack down on dissent in the country.

Analysts have noted similarities between the situation in Georgia and Ukraine — both former Soviet republics which have found themselves caught between the East and the West.

Read the full story here.

3:01 a.m. ET, March 9, 2023

At least 4 killed in Lviv after Russian missile strike

From CNN’s Svitlana Vlasova

Personnel conduct work at the scene following a Russian attack that hit a residential area in the Zolochiv district in Lviv on Thursday.
Personnel conduct work at the scene following a Russian attack that hit a residential area in the Zolochiv district in Lviv on Thursday. (The State Emergency Service of Ukraine)

At least four people were killed following a Russian missile strike that hit a residential area in the Zolochiv district in Lviv on Thursday, the head of the Lviv regional military administration Maksym Kozytskyi said.

“At the moment, we know about four dead. These are four adults. Two men and two women. They were at home when the missile hit,” he said. “The rubble is still being dismantled. There may be other people under them.”

Kozytskyi said the fire destroyed three residential buildings and had since been extinguished.

Ukrainian officials reported earlier that at least two people were injured in Kyiv after Russian shelling targeted energy facilities in at least seven regions across Ukraine on Thursday.

An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that the Kyiv victims' injuries were fatal. Their condition remains unknown.

3:01 a.m. ET, March 9, 2023

Russian shelling targets at least 7 regions across Ukraine, minister says

From CNN’s Svitlana Vlasova

Russian shelling targeted energy facilities in at least seven regions across Ukraine early on Thursday, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said on Telegram. 

Halushchenko said Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Dnipro and Zhytomyr were hit in the strikes.

At least two people were injured in Kyiv and about 15% of the capital was without electricity following the strikes, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said earlier on Telegram. 

An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that the Kyiv victims' injuries were fatal. Their condition remains unknown.

1:46 a.m. ET, March 9, 2023

Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant "completely disconnected" from power grid again, officials say

From CNN’s Svitlana Vlasova

 A general view of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is pictured in Nikopol on March 3.
 A general view of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is pictured in Nikopol on March 3. (Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has once again been “completely disconnected” from Ukraine’s power grid due to Russian shelling, state energy company Energoatom said on Telegram Thursday.

“Currently, the plant is disconnected and in blackout mode for the sixth time during the occupation, Units 5 and 6 are being put into cold shutdown, and 18 diesel generators have been switched on to power the plant's own needs,” the post read, adding the plant has enough fuel to operate for 10 days.

The plant sits in the Russian-occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia region and is the largest in Europe. It has been held by Russian forces for some 12 months but is operated by its Ukrainian staff.

The facility's latest disconnection from the power grid Thursday comes as officials across Ukraine reported Russian missile attacks targeting energy infrastructure.

"In addition, all domestic nuclear power plants located on the territory controlled by Ukraine have discharged their power due to the threat of missile attacks,” the Energoatom statement said.