About 4.5 million Ukrainians have been left without power following continued drone strikes on the country’s power network, as an ally of Vladimir Putin claimed Russian troops are fighting a holy war against Satan.

Swarms of kamikaze drones have been wreaking havoc on Ukraine’s power infrastructure, plunging cities into darkness and leaving homes without electricity.

Ukraine and its Western allies have accused Iran of supplying the drones to Russia, but Tehran has denied the charge.

Meanwhile in Russia, celebrations to mark the nation’s Day of Unity are expected to take place today.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of carrying out “energy terror” and of trying to “humiliate” Ukrainians because it cannot defeat them on the battlefield.

In his nightly address to the nation, he said: “To endure Russian energy terror and such a challenge is our national task, one of the main ones now.

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“The very fact that Russia resorted to terror against the energy industry shows the weakness of the enemy.

“They cannot defeat Ukraine on the battlefield, and that is why they are trying to break our people in this way – to humiliate Ukrainians, to strike at the morale of our people, at the resistance of our people.

“I believe that Russia will not succeed.”

The European Union is exploring ways to help Ukraine’s energy sector following what its energy commissioner said were “cruel and inhumane” attacks.

In Russia, former president Dimitry Medvedev has repeated wild claims that Russian troops are engaged in a sacred war in Ukraine.

In a speech marking Russia’s Day of National Unity, the Putin ally said the task of the fatherland was to “stop the supreme ruler of hell, whatever name he uses – Satan, Lucifer or Iblis”.

He claimed Russia had different weapons, including the ability to “send all our enemies to fiery Gehenna”, using a Hebrew term often translated as hell.

Mr Medvedev’s remarks are a continuation of Moscow’s attempt to frame its invasion of Ukraine as a holy war.

The rhetoric has often included references to President Putin as the chosen one, while the head of the Russian Orthodox Church has said that fighting in the “special military operation” washes away all sins.

Last month, Russian politician Aleksey Pavlov claimed that Kremlin troops need to carry out a “de-Satanisation” of Ukraine because the Church of Satan had spread across the country.

His comments were criticised by the church’s high priest, who said the claims were “false” and its members are “atheists who believe in free will and full responsibility for one’s actions” who made up a tiny part of the population.

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