VOA新闻杂志2022--俄罗斯在乌克兰全境发动导弹袭击

Russia Launches Missile Attacks across Ukraine

Russia struck several areas in Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv, with missiles Thursday. It was the biggest Russian attack in weeks. Russian forces targeted power stations and other important infrastructure¹ during the freezing winter weather.

Ukraine's military chief said early reports suggest Russia fired 69 missiles at energy facilities and Ukrainian forces shot down 54 of them. Several people were wounded.

A series of Russian strikes on power and water supplies have increased the Ukrainian population's suffering. Russia has launched attacks almost weekly since October. At the same time, Russian forces struggle to hold occupied positions and to move forward.

Ukraine used its air defense² systems in Kyiv Thursday to resist the strikes, said area officials. Sounds of explosions were heard in the city.

At least three people were wounded and hospitalized, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. He warned of power outages in the capital, asking people to save water and to charge electronic devices.

After more than 10 months of fighting, Russia and Ukraine are in a stalemate. The Ukrainian military has reclaimed³ areas of Russian-occupied territory in the country's northeast and south. It continues to resist Russia's attempts to seize all the industrial Donbas area in the east.

Russia has targeted Ukrainian power stations and other important infrastructure. Russia is trying to force Ukraine to negotiate on Russian terms. The time between strikes has increased in recent weeks, however. Some military experts say Russia is trying to conserve⁴ its supply of missiles.

The Ukrainian military reported success in shooting down Russian missiles and explosive drones after earlier attacks. But some still reached their targets. Most cities have gone without heat, internet service and electricity for hours or days at a time.

Many explosions also took place in Kharkiv, the country's second-largest city, which is in eastern Ukraine. Other attacks took place in Lviv near the border with Poland, officials said. About 90 percent of Lviv was without electricity, the city's mayor wrote on social media service Telegram.

Peace Talks Appear Unlikely

A Telegram channel connected to the presidential press service of Belarus said a Ukrainian missile landed in Belarusian territory early Thursday. It said the missile could have landed there accidentally. Nobody was wounded.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry⁵ said later that the missile was shot down by Belarusian air defenses. Belarus is a close Russian ally.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Monday that his nation wants peace talks within two months at the United Nations. He said Russia must face a war-crimes court before his country directly talks with Russia. He said other nations should feel free to talk with the Russians.

On Thursday, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman dismissed the proposal as being influenced by the United States.

Russian officials have said that any peace plan can only go forward if Ukraine recognizes Russia's control over the areas it annexed⁷ in September. The West does not recognize Russia's claims in Ukraine.

Words in This Story

infrastructure — n. structures such as roads, bridges and power stations that are needed for a society to operate

stalemate — n. a situation in which opposing sides cannot move forward or do anything effective

conserve — v. to use things carefully to prevent loss or waste

drone –n. a flying vehicle that operates without a pilot and that can carry out military operations

drone — n. a type of small aircraft that flies without a pilot

annex⁶ — v. to add territory to a country or area by declaring control over it

1 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 reclaimed   

adj.再生的；翻造的；收复的；回收的v.开拓( reclaim的过去式和过去分词 )；要求收回；从废料中回收（有用的材料）；挽救

参考例句：

• Many sufferers have been reclaimed from a dependence on alcohol. 许多嗜酒成癖的受害者已经被挽救过来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They reclaimed him from his evil ways. 他们把他从邪恶中挽救出来。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 conserve   

vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭

参考例句：

• He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
• Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力，你会用得着的！

5 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

6 annex   

vt.兼并，吞并；n.附属建筑物

参考例句：

• It plans to annex an England company in order to enlarge the market.它计划兼并一家英国公司以扩大市场。
• The annex has been built on to the main building.主楼配建有附属的建筑物。

7 annexed   

[法] 附加的，附属的

参考例句：

• Germany annexed Austria in 1938. 1938年德国吞并了奥地利。
• The outlying villages were formally annexed by the town last year. 那些偏远的村庄于去年正式被并入该镇。