Russia-Ukraine updates: Putin says war was ‘unleashed’ on Russia

The Russian president delivered his annual Victory Day speech.

ByMorgan Winsor, Nadine El-Bawab, Ivan Pereira, Meredith Deliso, Kevin Shalvey, Bill Hutchinson, and Patricio Chile
Last Updated: March 9, 2023, 3:34 AM EST

More than a year after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the countries are fighting for control of areas in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's forces are readying a spring counteroffensive, but Putin appears to be preparing for a long and bloody war.

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Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Mar 09, 2023, 3:34 AM EST

81 missiles launched in 'massive' Russian attack, Ukraine says

Waves of missiles and a handful of drones were launched overnight by Russia, targeting energy infrastructure and cities across Ukraine, officials said.

The attack on "critical infrastructure" and civilian targets lasted throughout the night, Verkovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, said on Twitter. Energy was being gradually restored on Thursday morning, the body said.

Rescuers work at a site of residential buildings destroyed by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Lviv region, Ukraine, March 9, 2023.
State Emergency Service Of Ukraine via Reuters

Ukraine's parliament and military said at least 81 missiles were fired from several bases. Eight Iranian-made drones were also launched, the military said.

Ukraine destroyed 34 cruise missiles and four drones, military officials said on Facebook.

Rescuers carry a body of a killed person a site of residential buildings destroyed by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Lviv region, Ukraine, March 9, 2023.
State Emergency Service Of Ukraine via Reuters

"Russia's threats only encourage partners to provide long-term assistance to Ukraine," said Yehor Chernev, deputy chairman of the Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence.

Russia "will be sentenced as a terrorist state" for its attacks, Ruslan Stefanchuk, Rada's chairperson, said on Twitter.

Mar 09, 2023, 12:35 AM EST

Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant now running on diesel generators, energy minister says

The last line that fed the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant has been damaged following missile strikes, and the plant is now working on diesel generators, according to the Ukrainian energy minister, Herman Galushchenko.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

Mar 09, 2023, 12:16 AM EST

Emergency power outages nationwide due to missile attacks, provider says

DTEK, the largest private grid operator in Ukraine, said emergency power outages are in effect due to the missile attacks in the Kyiv, Odesa, Mykolaiv and Dnipro regions.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

Mar 09, 2023, 12:27 AM EST

Multiple missile strikes reported across Ukraine

Multiple explosions have been reported in city centers all over the country, including Dnipro, Odesa, Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi and Kharkiv.

A view of emergency workers at the site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, March 9, 2023.
Gleb Garanich/Reuters

Residents in multiple areas are being asked to shelter in place, and communication and electricity has been impacted.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said multiple explosions were reported in the Holosiiv district.

The governor of Kharkiv, Oleh Syniehubov, said Russia struck the city at least 15 times overnight.

A man checks a damaged car at the site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, March 9, 2023.
Gleb Garanich/Reuters

The head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration said there had been no casualties and that the power supply is being restricted.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

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