Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reported that Russian forces launched attacks on 12 regions of Ukraine during the night of February 17, resulting in injuries to nine individuals, including children. The strikes caused damage to over ten residential buildings and disrupted rail services.
In a statement on Telegram, Zelensky described the assault as a coordinated effort aimed at severely damaging Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. He noted that nearly 400 drones and 29 missiles of various types, including ballistic ones, were deployed. Although a significant number of these were intercepted, some did manage to hit their targets.
In the city of Odesa, tens of thousands of residents are without heating and water following the drone strikes. Zelensky emphasized the need for international partners to respond to these attacks, asserting that Russia must be held accountable for its aggression. He called for sustained pressure on Russia through sanctions and continued military support for Ukraine.
Serhiy Lysak, head of the Odesa military administration, reported three injuries from the attacks, with one individual in serious condition. Air raid alerts were issued six times in Odesa during the night.
Local authorities in Dnipro reported a fire in one district, damaging administrative buildings and vehicles. The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that by 9:30 AM, they had neutralized 25 missiles and 367 drones launched by Russia. They recorded impacts from four ballistic missiles and 18 strike drones across 13 locations, with debris falling in eight areas.
Russian military forces have consistently targeted Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure using various weapons, including drones and missiles. These attacks have been classified by Ukrainian authorities and international organizations as war crimes, highlighting their deliberate nature.
Officials assert that the strikes on essential services and healthcare facilities aim to deprive civilians of electricity, heating, water supply, communication, medical assistance, and other vital resources. Legal experts and human rights advocates argue that such actions may constitute genocidal acts under international law.
The 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide obligates its 149 member states to prevent and punish acts of genocide during both wartime and peacetime. The convention defines genocide as actions intended to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.
Indicators of genocide include the killing of group members, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting living conditions calculated to destroy a group, and public incitement to commit such acts.
The Russian leadership has denied that its military conducts targeted strikes against civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, asserting that it does not intentionally harm civilian populations or destroy hospitals, schools, and essential services.
Recent Russian strikes on Ukraine have resulted in injuries and significant damage to infrastructure across multiple regions. Ukrainian officials have condemned these attacks as war crimes and potential acts of genocide, emphasizing the need for international accountability.