A barrage of Russian missiles and drones damaged energy facilities in southeastern and western Ukraine, wounding at least two energy workers and forcing record electricity imports, officials reported.
National grid operator Ukrenergo announced that equipment in the Zaporizhzhia region and Lviv was damaged in the second significant Russian air attack this week. Two workers in Zaporizhzhia were hospitalized for treatment.
Additionally, a gas infrastructure facility in western Ukraine was hit, according to the energy ministry. “After eight massive attacks by the enemy on the power system since March, the situation in the energy sector remains difficult,” the ministry stated.
Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its forces used long-range missiles from aircraft and ships, along with drones, to target ammunition depots and energy facilities supporting military production.
For the first time since the invasion in February 2022, Russian forces launched missiles from the Sea of Azov instead of the Black Sea, marking a strategic shift. Ukrainian navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk described this as a significant development, noting the perceived safety of the Sea of Azov compared to the Black Sea.
Ukraine’s air force reported shooting down 12 of 16 missiles and all 13 drones launched by Russia. Air alerts lasted for several hours during the night in various regions.
