Russian missiles targeted power facilities in central and western Ukraine, putting additional strain on the country’s struggling energy system.
Saturday’s airstrikes, carried out with long-range missiles including cruise missiles, were the fourth large-scale assault on Ukraine’s power infrastructure since March 22.
DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private electricity provider, reported that four of its six thermal power plants were damaged in the attacks.
Rescuers worked to extinguish fires at energy facilities in the western regions of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, according to local authorities.
Meanwhile, Russia claimed that its air defense systems shot down 17 drones over Russian territory, purportedly launched by Ukraine.
The Russian defense ministry stated on Telegram that nine drones were intercepted over the Bryansk region, three over the Kursk region, two over the Belgorod region, and three over the Kaluga region.
Following these attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reiterated his calls for more defensive missiles—especially the Patriot system—and for faster delivery of military aid.
Despite this week’s US aid package breakthrough, Zelenskiy said that the Russian targets included electricity and gas transit facilities, which are vital for gas supply to the European Union.
Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted 21 of the 34 incoming missiles, according to the air force’s commander.
In the central Dnipropetrovsk region, strikes on energy facilities disrupted running water supplies in Zelenskiy’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih.
In other news, a Russian court ordered the detention of another suspect following the arrest of a close associate of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who was accused of taking bribes.
TASS news agency reported that Anton Filatov, a subordinate of Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, had been taken into custody.
A Russian missile hit a hospital in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, injuring a woman and causing damage to the building, nearby water pipes, and power lines, according to the regional governor.
Additionally, Ukraine launched a drone strike on the Ilsky and Sloviansk oil refineries in Russia’s Krasnodar region, causing fires at the facilities, according to a Ukrainian intelligence source.
The Sloviansk oil refinery was forced to suspend some operations due to the damage from the drone attack.
In eastern Ukraine, Russia has sent more troops to Ocheretyne to reinforce its offensive, though Kyiv’s forces reportedly maintain control over most of the village.
Russian troops have slowly progressed through several villages on the eastern front since capturing Avdiivka in February.
Despite fierce fighting, Nazar Voloshyn, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s eastern command, said that Ukrainian forces had the situation “under control” and retained control over two-thirds of the village.
In another development, Australia’s Defense Minister, Richard Marles, announced a $100 million military aid package for Ukraine, including short-range air defense systems and drones, with additional precision munitions to follow.
The announcement came during his visit to Lviv.
Italy summoned Russia’s ambassador after Moscow put a subsidiary of Italian heating firm Ariston under the “temporary management” of state energy company Gazprom.
An EU spokesperson criticized the move as “yet another proof of Russia’s disregard for international law and rules” and urged Moscow to reverse it.
Lastly, Russia announced that it would continue to require major exporters to convert the majority of their foreign currency earnings into rubles for another year, aiming to support its national currency.
This policy, implemented to stabilize the ruble amid Western sanctions, has been in place since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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