Russia and Ukraine renewed attacks on energy infrastructure overnight, damaging plants and causing fires. 

The Ukrainian army said in its regular situational update on Saturday that Russia hit Ukraine with a “massive missile attack”. Energy Minister German Galushchenko also said in a Facebook post that the “enemy” had again attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

Kyiv

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

### Russia and Ukraine Renew Attacks on Each Other’s Energy Sectors

In a recent escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russia and Ukraine have intensified their assaults on each other's energy infrastructure. The Ukrainian army reported a significant Russian offensive, described as a "massive missile attack" that targeted Ukraine. Energy facilities within the country were particularly affected, with Energy Minister German Galushchenko confirming via social media that Ukraine’s energy network had again come under attack.

Ukraine's defense forces were able to intercept a considerable number of the missiles launched in this latest offensive. Out of 34 missiles reported, 21 were shot down, with many of the strikes aimed at crippling the country's energy facilities. In a retaliatory move, Ukraine targeted two oil refineries in Russia's Krasnodar region utilizing drones, which resulted in several fires at these facilities.

The attacks on Ukraine's energy network are part of a broader strategy by Russia to disrupt the provision of electricity in the country. DTEK, Ukraine's major electricity company, reported that four of its thermal electricity plants were attacked. The offensive also includes attempts to hinder Ukraine's military supplies by targeting railway lines.

These intensified attacks come at a pivotal time, as Russia reportedly seeks to achieve significant military gains ahead of May 9, a day of military celebration in Russia. Additionally, the Ukrainian government suggests that these assaults aim to weaken Ukraine’s infrastructure before the arrival of a substantial aid package from the United States, valued at 61 billion dollars, which includes weaponry and air defenses.

On the defensive side, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that it had intercepted 68 drones heading toward Russia, particularly targeting the Krasnodar region's oil refineries. The governor of Krasnodar confirmed these attempts to attack the region's energy facilities, highlighting the use of long-range drones by Ukraine as part of its strategy to disrupt Russia’s energy supplies.




Russia and Ukraine target each other’s energy sectors

Ukraine says it shot down 21 of 34 missiles that were launched by Russia in an overnight attack most of the strikes targeted Ukraine's energy facilities and Ukraine says it targeted two oil refineries in Russia's Krasnodar region with drones early on Saturday The attack reportedly caused several fires at the facilities Al Jazeera's John Holman has more from the Ukrainian capital Kiev Ukraine's government said that on Friday night a mass missile strike Particularly targeted the country's energy network The company DTEK said that four of its thermal electricity plants had been attacked and this has been a strategy From Russia targeting Ukraine's energy network targeting the electricity in the country. There's also been a ramp-up Ukrainian government says on attacks on its railway lines It says that Russia's trying to attack its military supplies getting to the front now Why the focus and the increase in these attacks now, there's two key time frames. The first is May the 9th That's the day that Russia celebrates its victory over Germany in World War two but it's become a day of military celebration in general in the country and Reportedly the government there wants to see gains before the May the 9th so it can celebrate them on that day There's another key time frame and that's to do with the fact that there's been a 61 billion dollar aid package Approved by the United States to get towards Ukraine And so Russia also the Ukrainian government says wants to make as much advances and knock out as much Infrastructure as it can before the weaponry and the air defiant Defenses in that package start to arrive in the country and it can protect them more now on the other side the Russian Defense Ministry Said that it intercepted 68 drones that were going towards the country and particularly towards the Krasnodar region The governor of Krasnodar has said that they were trying to attack the oil refineries there That's also been a strategy for Ukraine to use those long-range drones to go into Russia and particularly to attack Its energy network and its energy supplies as this war continues John Holman Al Jazeera Kiev Ukraine

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Ukraine Invasion