KYIV (AFP) — Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure triggered power cuts in the west of the war-torn country, authorities said Tuesday, after Moscow’s latest aerial barrage.

A drone hit Ternopil, a western town home to 224,000 people, that saw a deadly strike on Monday and extensive power cuts that left thousands without electricity last month.

“An enemy drone hit an energy infrastructure facility in Ternopil. Part of the city is without electricity,” said the town’s mayor, Sergiy Nadal.

Western Ukraine has been relatively spared in the nearly three-year war, but Russia has recently stepped up strikes over the whole country’s energy infrastructure, seen as a bid to knock out crucial power supplies through the winter months and sap Ukrainian morale.

Overnight attacks also targeted the western Rivne region, said its governor, Oleksandr Koval.

“Another enemy attack on Rivne region. An energy infrastructure facility was hit,” Koval said on social media, without specifying the immediate consequences of the attack.

The Ukrainian air force said Russia had attacked Ukraine with 28 drones, 22 of which were shot down.

$725-M aid

The attack follows the United States’ announcement on Monday of a new $725 million military aid package for Ukraine that features a second tranche of landmines as well as anti-air and anti-armor weapons.

US President Joe Biden’s administration is working against the clock to provide billions of dollars in aid to Kyiv before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, after which future assistance for Ukraine will be in doubt.

Less than two months before Trump is set to be sworn in, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the package was part of efforts “to ensure Ukraine has the capabilities it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression.”

It includes anti-personnel landmines, ammunition for HIMARS precision rocket launchers, Stinger missiles, counter-drone systems, anti-armor weapons and artillery ammunition, Blinken said in a statement.

The US announced a first shipment of landmines to Ukraine last month -- a major policy shift slammed by rights groups.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said that the decision was necessitated by Russian forces leading with dismounted infantry units instead of vehicles.

The Ukrainians “have a need for things that can help slow down that effort on the part of the Russians,” Austin told journalists last month.

The outgoing US administration is working to get as much aid as possible to Ukraine before Trump — who has repeatedly criticized US assistance for Kyiv, claiming he could secure a ceasefire within hours — takes over the presidency.