A series of Russian drone and missile attacks caused disruptions to heating and water supplies, and injured civilians in multiple regions of Ukraine during the early morning hours, according to reports from Ukrainian government and military sources. The attacks, which impacted at least 29 locations across the country, have caused severe damage to energy and transportation infrastructure.
Ukrainian authorities detailed that Russia used a total of 653 drones and 51 missiles of various types in an attack on Saturday, a figure confirmed by the regional force in Kyiv. More than 300 of these drones were Shahed models, of which 585 were intercepted, according to the Ukrainian Air Force's morning statement.
The offensive was not limited to the use of drones. Launches of Kh-47M2 Kinzhal-type aeroballistic missiles were confirmed, as well as Kh-101, Iskander-K, and Kalibr cruise missiles, of which 29 were shot down.
In addition, they used Iskander-M and KN-23 ballistic missiles, intercepting at least one of these projectiles. Missile fragments and destroyed drones fell in various locations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that “the main targets of these attacks, once again, were energy facilities. Russia’s goal is to inflict suffering on millions of Ukrainians,” he said in a message posted on social media.
The targeted attacks hit power stations and residential areas in regions such as Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv and Dnipropetrovsk.
According to Oleksiy Kuleba, Ukrainian Minister of Restoration and Deputy Prime Minister, approximately 9,500 customers in the Odessa region remain without heating and 34,000 have lost access to drinking water as a direct result of Russian bombing.
Kuleba denounced that “Russia continues to systematically strike cities, energy facilities, and logistics routes.” He added that repair work is already underway.
On the transport front, a Russian drone set fire to the main building of the Fastiv train station, 70 kilometers southwest of Kyiv. The state-owned company Ukrzaliznytsia confirmed the disruption of suburban train service due to the extent of the damage. “There were no casualties, but suburban train service has been disrupted,” the state operator said in a statement.
In the town of Novi Petrivtski, also in the capital region, a warehouse and three trucks burned down.
In Chernigiv, drones struck private homes and essential infrastructure, causing fires in the area. In the city of Lutsk, near the Polish border, a drone attack sparked a fire in a food warehouse, according to Mayor Ihor Polishchuk, who spoke on Telegram.
Despite the magnitude of the attack and the interception efforts by Ukrainian defenses, the damage to critical infrastructure adds to an already precarious situation in several territories of the country.
This new offensive occurred while talks continued between Ukraine and United States on possible ways to end the conflict, which began almost four years ago.
