KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Russia fired 93 missiles at Ukraine in an early morning barrage targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday.

“Another Russian missile strike against Ukraine. Cruise missiles, ballistic missiles. According to preliminary reports, 93 missiles were launched,” the Ukrainian leader posted on X, calling for more Western air defenses and harsher sanctions on Moscow.

“The enemy continues its terror. Once again, the energy sector across Ukraine is under massive attack,” Energy Minister German Galushchenko said.

“Russia has launched a massive attack on DTEK’s thermal power plants,” the company said in a statement, adding that the attack “severely damaged thermal power plant equipment.” It did not specify how many facilities were hit.

The air raid alert had been announced since 7 a.m. and channels monitoring threats reported missiles over several regions of Ukraine.

Russia has escalated its strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, plunging hundreds of thousands into temporary blackouts as temperatures hit zero degrees Celsius.

There were at least 11 large-scale strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since the beginning of the year, according to official figures.

To manage the power deficit, Ukraine’s energy operator has been implementing hours-long outages.

It announced increased restrictions on Friday following the attack.

Moscow has previously acknowledged striking Ukraine’s energy sites but says they are legitimate targets as they “support the Ukrainian defense industry enterprises.”

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly denounced the attacks on the energy system as attempts to break the population’s morale, and urged allies to send more air defense.

Reacting to the latest strike, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga reiterated that call.

“Russia aims to deprive us of energy. Instead, we must deprive it of the means of terror,” he said on social media.

$500-M aid

Meanwhile, the United States on Thursday announced a new $500-million package of military aid for Ukraine, as Washington races to bolster Kyiv before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

“The United States is providing another significant package of urgently needed weapons and equipment to our Ukrainian partners as they defend against Russia’s ongoing attacks,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement, with the aid to be drawn from US military stockpiles.

The package announced Thursday includes ammunition for precision HIMARS rocket launchers, artillery ammunition, drones, armored vehicles, and equipment to protect against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks, along with other equipment, the statement said.

Trump’s November election victory has cast doubt on the future of American aid for Ukraine, providing a limited window for billions of dollars in already authorized assistance to be disbursed before he is sworn in next month.

The Republican has said his incoming administration will “probably” reduce aid to Ukraine, which Washington has been steadfastly backing since its invasion by Russia nearly three years ago.