Massive Russian air attacks target Ukrainian energy infrastructure

Russian forces again launched massive air attacks with drones and missiles on Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on Friday.

A number of MiG-31 combat jets equipped with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles had taken off, it said.

Military observes said the Kinzhal missiles were fired at western Ukrainian targets near the Burshtyn heating plant and the Starokostiantyniv military airbase. A number of cruise missiles had struck in the Odessa region in southern Ukraine as well, they said.

There was initially no official confirmation.

Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko posted on Facebook that the energy sector had again come under massive attack. Information on the damage caused would be provided once the security situation allowed, he said.

Precautionary power cuts were introduced in a number of regions to prevent grid overload.

Four people were injured in the Kharkiv region in the north-east, the regional military governor, Oleh Syniehubov, posted on Telegram. Kharkiv City Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that a drone had struck a residential building.

Russian forces have repeatedly targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure during the cold winter months since launching their full-scale invasion in February 2022.