ISTANBUL

Ukraine said Tuesday that at least four people were killed and 19 others injured in overnight and morning strikes by Russia that targeted multiple regions.

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said on Telegram that two people were killed and seven others injured in overnight strikes in the Poltava region, including its administrative center, which it said damaged residential buildings, a hotel, and industrial facilities.

“Fires broke out, which were extinguished by firefighters," the statement said, adding that rescuers are working at the scene to remove debris.

One person was killed and nine others were injured in the city of Zaporizhzhia during the overnight attacks, which also resulted in a fire at a high-rise building and damage to nearby buildings, the emergency service said.

Another person was killed in the southern Kherson region, where strikes destroyed a private residential building, it added.

Ukraine's Energy Ministry announced power outages in Kherson, Poltava and Zaporizhzhia, as well as in the Kharkiv, Odesa, and Sumy regions, due to the overnight attack.

Separately, the Ukrainian Air Force claimed on Telegram that the country’s air defenses shot down 365 out of 392 drones launched by Russia overnight, as well as 25 out of 34 missiles.

“These numbers clearly show that more protection is needed to save lives from Russian strikes. It is important to continue supporting Ukraine. It is important that all agreements on air defense are implemented on time,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on US social media company X, commenting on the strikes, which he said caused damage in 11 regions.

"And it is important that Europe is able to produce the necessary number of air defense missiles to protect itself against any threats.”

Separately, Maia Sandu, the president of neighboring Moldova, said the overnight strikes disconnected her country's key power link with Europe.

"Alternative routes are in place, but the situation remains fragile. Russia alone bears responsibility," she said on X.

Russian authorities have not yet commented on the attack.

The strikes come after Zelenskyy said during a Monday evening video address that Russia may be preparing a massive strike on Ukraine, citing intelligence reports.

On Monday morning, strikes were also reported in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, where Governor Oleksandr Haida said three people were injured when a 14-story building was damaged in an attack.