Russia targeted Ukrainian energy facilities in a new wave of airstrikes, Ukrainian officials said on Thursday, despite a U.N. monitoring body saying attacks on the power grid probably violated humanitarian law.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pleaded with Western allies for more air- defense systems to shield energy infrastructure against Russian attacks. The effort to keep Uk

Sybiha specified that the potential attacks could target open distribution systems at nuclear power plants and transmission substations, which are vital for the safe operation of nuclear energy. Read also: U.

Ukraine's foreign minister said on Saturday that Russia is planning strikes on Ukrainian nuclear facilities before the winter, and urged the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog and Ukraine's allies to establish permanent monitoring missions at the country's nuclear plants.

Russian forces obliterated a retirement home in Ukraine, killing an elderly woman and wounding at least a dozen more, in the latest wave of deadly airstrikes to hit the country, Ukrainian officials said.