In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russia has launched a coordinated missile and drone attack targeting Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on Monday that the assault involved over 100 missiles of various types and approximately 100 drones, marking it as one of the largest combined strikes since the onset of the conflict.
The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed the attack, stating that the Russian Armed Forces employed high-precision long-range air and sea-based weapons to strike unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at key energy facilities. The Ministry claimed that all assigned targets were hit, including two electronic warfare stations and four field ammunition depots, according to a statement released on Monday.
The Ukrainian government-run Ukrinform news agency reported explosions in several cities, including the capital Kyiv, Dnipro, Kropyvnytsky, Vinnytsia, Kryvyi Rih, and the eastern city of Kharkiv. The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that multiple groups of combat drones and cruise missiles were used in the attack. Russian Tu-95MC strategic bombers and Tu-22M3 long-range supersonic bombers were also involved, with eleven of the former and six of the latter being airborne during the strike.
President Zelensky described the attack as “one of the largest” to date, causing extensive damage to Ukraine’s energy sector. Despite the significant destruction, efforts to restore the affected facilities are already underway. Ukrainian officials have been on high alert for a major missile attack, especially following a warning from the US Embassy about an elevated risk of attacks around Ukrainian Independence Day, which was observed on Saturday.
In Kyiv, nearly 15 missiles and 15 drones were intercepted and downed, according to Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration. Both Russia and Ukraine maintain that they do not deliberately target civilians, although the strikes have resulted in substantial damage and disruption.
The ongoing conflict continues to have severe implications for both military and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, with recent attacks highlighting the escalating intensity of the conflict and its impact on the nation’s critical systems.
Sources By Agencies
