Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal regards Russia's morning missile attack as yet another attempt to commit genocide against the Ukrainian people.

"Today, Russian terrorists shelled our energy infrastructure facilities for the ninth time. We regard this terrorist activity by the Russian leadership as another attempt to commit genocide against the Ukrainian people," Shmyhal said at the Government’s meeting on Friday, Ukrinform reports.

According to him, the Ukrainian air defense forces, as always, did their best and prevented the enemy from plunging the country into darkness. "Sixty out of 76 missiles were shot down. We thank the defenders of the Ukrainian sky for this," the Prime Minister emphasized.

At the same time, Shmyhal noted that the Ukrainian defense forces need more weapons, and the energy sector needs more equipment because energy facilities – high-voltage substations and power-generating facilities – were damaged

"Once again, there is a serious shortage in the power system. And currently, emergency shutdowns are being used almost all over the country," he said.

As reported, on Friday, December 16, Russia launched a new massive attack on Ukraine. Due to damage to energy facilities, emergency power outages were imposed across the country.

Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko confirmed explosions in Desniansky, Dniprovsky, and Holosiivsky districts of the capital. Kharkiv is completely without power as a result of the attack, a missile hit a residential building in Kryvyi Rih.