Russian Forces Launch Attacks in Ukraine
Russian forces continue to carry out attacks in various areas of Ukraine with the aim of wearing down local militias. On this occasion, the army has bombed Ukrainian energy facilities and damaged arsenals of weapons supplied by Western countries.
The Kremlin’s Armed Forces carried out a ‘massive’ attack overnight from Friday to Saturday, using high-precision and long-range weapons by sea and air, as well as drones, against Ukrainian energy facilities. These attacks affected the normal functioning of companies in the country’s military-industrial complex.
According to Volodymyr Zelensky’s government, 16 Kalibr cruise missiles were launched from the Black Sea, several X-101 and X-555 missiles were launched from the air, and 13 kamikaze drones. Despite this, 12 missiles and 13 drones were neutralized. The attacks also hit residential buildings and a kindergarten.
Response of the Russian Ministry of Defense
In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said the mission was successful and all targets were destroyed. According to Vladimir Putin’s government, the attack was a response to Ukraine’s repeated attempts to bomb Russian energy facilities.
It is estimated that by 2024, Ukraine will have launched nearly fifty drone and rocket attacks against Russian fuel depots and oil refineries, some hundreds of kilometers from the border. Ukraine has confirmed Russian attacks and damage to facilities in Zaporizhzhia and Lviv, in the south and west of the country, respectively.
Challenges for the Protection of Energy Facilities
Experts point out that Russia’s territorial extension and the distribution of the energy sector throughout the country make it difficult to protect energy facilities, which are considered targets by Ukraine.
Civilian Casualties and Attacks in the Donetsk People’s Republic
The leader of the People’s Republic of Donetsk, a region annexed by Russia in 2022, has denounced that massive Ukrainian attacks with bombs and drones against the regional capital have caused the death of three civilians, in addition to injuring four more people. This is the first attack that the Budionnovski district has suffered since the war began.
Even though attacks on the regional capital have slowed after Russian forces seized Avdivka, the Ukrainian military periodically launches missiles at the city.
