Russia Launches Largest Drone and Missile Attack on Ukraine, Targeting Energy Infrastructure
Russia Launches Major Attack on Ukraine
On Sunday, Russia attacked Ukraine with a significant number of drones and missiles. This assault is the largest in recent months and targeted energy infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia used 120 missiles and 90 drones in this attack. The drones included Iranian-made Shaheds, along with various types of missiles.
Ukrainian air defenses managed to shoot down 144 out of 210 aerial targets during the attack. Despite these efforts, there were casualties. In Mykolaiv, a drone attack resulted in two deaths and injuries to six others, including two children. In the Odesa region, two employees of the state-owned power operator, Ukrenergo, were killed due to the attack that also harmed energy facilities and disrupted power and water supplies.
Kyiv’s City Military Administration stated that this was the most potent combined drone and missile attack in three months. In Kyiv, a five-story residential building caught fire, causing injuries to one person. DTEK, a private energy company, reported serious damage to one of its thermal power plants.
Russian strikes have frequently targeted Ukraine’s power infrastructure since the onset of the invasion in February 2022. This has led to emergency power shutdowns and blackouts nationwide. Ukrainian officials have called for more support from Western nations to strengthen air defenses and aid repairs.
Explosions were reported across Ukraine, including in Kyiv and Odesa. In response to the attack, Poland’s armed forces mobilized aircraft in its airspace to bolster safety near the border with Ukraine.
Russia’s Defense Ministry admitted to conducting a large missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, claiming the facilities were linked to Ukraine’s military efforts. Although Ukraine’s nuclear plants were not directly hit, some of their electrical substations suffered damage, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Ukrainian Drones Strike Inside Russia
Ukrainian drones also hit targets in Russia. A local journalist was killed in the Kursk region due to a Ukrainian drone strike. In Belgorod province, a man died when a drone dropped explosives on his car.
Additionally, a drone targeted a drone factory in Izhevsk, Russia. The regional leader reported that the explosion blew out windows but did not cause serious damage. One man sustained a head injury and was briefly hospitalized.