Russia and Ukraine Exchange Missile Strikes
Russia launched a series of missile attacks on Ukraine overnight, targeting the country’s energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Russia reported that its air defence systems intercepted over 60 Ukrainian drones in the southern Krasnodar region.
According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia launched 34 missiles, with 21 being shot down by Ukrainian air defences. Energy facilities in Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv were among those targeted, resulting in damage and injuries.
Private energy operator DTEK reported that four of its thermal power plants were damaged, with casualties, although details were not provided. This follows a previous attack earlier this month that destroyed one of Ukraine’s largest power plants and damaged others.
Ukraine has requested additional air defence systems from its Western allies to counter such attacks. In response, the US has pledged to provide Ukraine with more munitions and gear for its air defence launchers.
In a separate incident, a psychiatric hospital in Kharkiv was damaged, and one person was injured in a missile attack. Photos showed a large crater on the hospital grounds, with patients taking shelter in corridors.
In Russia, the Defense Ministry reported that air defence systems intercepted 66 drones over the Krasnodar region, with two more shot down over the Crimean Peninsula. The governor of the Krasnodar region stated that Ukrainian forces targeted an oil refinery and infrastructure facilities, but there were no casualties or serious damage.
Ukrainian officials typically do not comment on attacks on Russian soil, but the Ukrainian Energy Ministry confirmed that two oil refineries in the Krasnodar region were hit by drones.
