In response, Ukraine has launched a major long-range drone attack into Russia, marking a new phase in the conflict.
The Russian airstrikes, executed with ballistic and cruise missiles from strategic bombers based in the Arctic Circle, represent the fourth large-scale aerial assault on Ukraine's power system since late March. "The enemy again massively shelled Ukrainian energy facilities," stated DTEK, Ukraine's largest private electricity company. The company reported that four of its six thermal power plants suffered damage overnight.
Emergency services struggled to extinguish fires at several energy facilities in the western regions of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, which share borders with NATO members Poland and Romania. Following strikes on energy facilities in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, water supplies were disrupted in President Volodymyr Zelensky's hometown of Kryvyi Rih.
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Ukrainian air defenses managed to intercept 21 of the 34 incoming missiles, according to a statement from the commander of the air force. The specific facilities targeted were not named, a precautionary measure intended to hinder Russia's ability to quickly assess the impact of its strikes.
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In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, which has been heavily bombed in recent weeks, a missile struck a hospital housing 60 patients overnight. The attack resulted in injuries to a woman and caused damage to the building, nearby water pipes, and power lines, according to the regional governor.
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In a counter-offensive, Ukraine targeted the Ilsky and Slavyansk oil refineries in Russia’s Krasnodar region overnight, a Ukrainian intelligence source disclosed to Reuters. The drone strike, conducted by the SBU security service, ignited fires at the facilities. The source also reported an attack on Russia’s Kushchevsk military airfield in the southern region.
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The Slavyansk oil refinery was compelled to halt some operations after sustaining damage in the attack, as reported by Russian state news agency TASS, citing an executive overseeing the plant.
Ukraine has been utilizing its long-range drones to retaliate against Russia's aerial onslaught in recent months. Kyiv's strategy involves targeting infrastructure to disrupt the Russian economy, given Russia's status as one of the world's largest oil exporters, and military airfields.
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Earlier this month, Russia destroyed one of Ukraine's largest power plants and damaged others in a massive missile and drone attack, as part of its strategy to target Ukraine's energy facilities. Ukraine has repeatedly appealed to its Western allies for additional air defense resources to counter such attacks. Following the latest Russian strikes, President Zelensky issued a renewed appeal for air defenses and weapons deliveries.
Zelensky emphasized the need for sufficient quantities of air defense and other weapons to protect Ukrainian cities and maintain the front line. "Terror should always lose, and anyone who helps us stand against Russian terror is a true defender of life," he stated.
Earlier this week, the US approved a significant military aid package for Ukraine worth $60 billion, overcoming months of political infighting in Congress. Meanwhile, Ukraine's stocks of weapons and air defenses have been steadily depleted.
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On Friday, the Pentagon announced plans to expedite the delivery of Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine as part of its new military aid package. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the US was committing to its largest security assistance package to date and would "move immediately" to deliver the supplies to Ukraine.
Austin underscored the stakes for Ukraine, Europe, and the United States, warning, "If Putin prevails in Ukraine, Europe would face a security threat it hasn’t seen in a lifetime. Russia will not stop in Ukraine."
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, who visited Lviv on Saturday, also announced a $100 million military aid package, including short-range air defense and drones, with air-to-ground precision munitions to be delivered separately.
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