Russian forces targeted key infrastructure across Ukraine with a significant barrage of more than 300 drones and 37 missiles during overnight attacks, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The strikes, which occurred on Thursday, particularly affected the central regions of Vinnytsia and Poltava, as well as the northeastern areas of Sumy and Kharkiv.
Zelenskiy emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “This autumn, the Russians use every single day to strike at our energy infrastructure.” This marks a continuation of Russia’s strategy, which has included consistent assaults on Ukraine’s energy and power facilities as the conflict extends into its fourth year. While previous attacks predominantly targeted electricity infrastructure, recent efforts have increasingly focused on gas facilities.
According to Sergii Koretskyi, CEO of the state energy company Naftogaz, Ukraine experienced six significant attacks on gas installations just this month. The latest wave of strikes resulted in damage to multiple facilities, leading to halted operations in some areas. Koretskyi noted, “This directly impacts the volume of domestic gas production, which we are forced to cover through imports.”
As Ukraine grapples with energy shortages, the government is actively seeking assistance from international allies to secure funding for gas imports ahead of the colder months. The Ukrainian air force reported that 14 missiles and 37 drones struck various locations during the assault, while 283 drones and five missiles were intercepted. The drone strikes have also resulted in power outages, prompting Ukraine to restrict energy supplies to industrial consumers.
In response to the ongoing threats, Kyiv has escalated its own military operations, targeting Russian oil refineries in regions near the border and beyond. Zelenskiy, who is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday during his visit to the United States, has reiterated his call for enhanced long-range capabilities for Ukraine. “Putin has turned a deaf ear to everything the world says, so the only language that can still get through to him is the language of pressure,” Zelenskiy remarked. “That is exactly what I will be discussing today and tomorrow in Washington.”
As of now, there has been no official comment from Moscow regarding the overnight attacks on Ukraine. The situation remains tense, with both countries preparing for further military developments in the ongoing conflict.
