Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine on Friday, firing 93 cruise and ballistic missiles along with nearly 200 drones, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This attack targeted the country’s energy infrastructure and is considered one of the heaviest since Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly three years ago. Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted 81 missiles, including 11 cruise missiles downed by F-16 fighter jets provided by Western allies earlier this year, Zelenskyy reported. Despite these defenses, the assault still caused significant damage, particularly to Ukraine’s energy sector. In a message on his Telegram channel, Zelenskyy accused Russia of “terrorizing millions of people” and called for a strong international response. "A massive strike – a massive reaction. This is the only way to stop terror," he urged, emphasizing the need for global unity against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions. As the war continues, there is growing uncertainty over the future, especially with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump set to take office next month. Trump has pledged to end the war and cast doubt on the continuation of U.S. military support for Ukraine. In response to the attack, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the missile and drone strikes targeted "critically important fuel and energy facilities" in Ukraine, which are crucial for its military-industrial complex. Russia framed the assault as retaliation for a Ukrainian strike earlier in the week using U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMs) on a Russian airbase. Read: US warns Russia may use new lethal missile against Ukraine soon Trump has expressed opposition to allowing Ukraine to strike Russian territory using U.S. weapons, a position that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted aligns with Russia’s stance. Peskov said, "We have a shared vision of the causes of escalation," acknowledging that Trump understands what exacerbates the conflict. The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv confirmed that Friday's attack also targeted transportation networks and other vital infrastructure. Ukrainian energy company DTEK, the country’s largest private energy provider, reported that its thermal power plants had been "seriously damaged" in the strike. Russia has consistently targeted Ukraine’s power grid, seeking to cripple its electricity supply and disrupt both civilian life and Ukraine's defense production capabilities. Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko assured the public that energy workers were taking all necessary measures to mitigate the damage, promising to provide more information once the security situation allowed. The Ukrainian Air Force reported multiple drone strikes overnight, followed by a wave of cruise missile attacks across the country’s airspace. Additionally, Russia employed air-launched Kinzhal ballistic missiles in Ukraine’s western regions. This attack mirrors a similar massive strike on November 28, which also involved over 200 missiles and drones, leaving more than a million households without power until emergency teams could restore the electricity. Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia is stockpiling additional missiles and drones for future strikes. Read more: EU may suspend asylum for migrants 'weaponized' by Russia, Belarus On November 21, Russia used its first-ever intermediate-range hypersonic missile, the Oreshnik, to target an industrial facility in Dnipro, eastern Ukraine. Putin had threatened more such attacks in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory using Western-supplied long-range weapons. There were no reports of the Oreshnik missile being used in Friday’s assault, but U.S. officials have warned that it could be deployed in the near future. Half of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has already been destroyed during the conflict, and widespread electricity blackouts are a common occurrence. While Kyiv’s Western allies have provided advanced air defense systems to help protect critical infrastructure, Russia continues to overwhelm Ukraine’s defenses with large-scale "swarm" attacks, launching numerous missiles and drones in a single strike. In the broader military context, Russia has maintained the initiative this year, making slow but steady progress in its eastern offensives, steadily pushing through Ukrainian defenses.