(CLO) Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine on Wednesday, focusing on gas and energy infrastructure in the western regions.
The move is in response to recent Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian military and oil and gas facilities, as well as further weakening Kiev's energy system and military power.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: FB/zelenskyy.official
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched more than 40 missiles in the early morning attack and used more than 70 UAVs overnight.
Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 30 missiles and 47 UAVs. In addition, 27 other UAVs were "disoriented" thanks to Kiev's electronic warfare system, which deflected these flying devices.
The governor of the Lviv region (western Ukraine) said that two energy facilities in the Drohobych and Stryi districts were damaged. In the neighboring Ivano-Frankivsk region, Ukrainian air defense systems are actively intercepting attacks on infrastructure.
In addition, the air force also reported that gas facilities in the northeastern Ukrainian province of Kharkiv were attacked. The capital Kiev was also attacked, forcing hundreds of people to take shelter in subway stations.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that it had carried out airstrikes on Ukrainian energy facilities and claimed that it had “hit all the intended targets.”
In a separate statement released after midnight, Russia said the strikes were in response to Ukraine's use of US-supplied ATACMS and British-made Storm Shadow missiles, as well as an attack on Russia's Krasnodar region, with the aim of disrupting gas flows through the TurkStream pipeline network.
The Russian Defense Ministry also confirmed that it had successfully attacked a large gas storage facility in the town of Stryi, western Ukraine.
Ukraine's national oil and gas corporation, Naftogaz, announced that gas supplies to residents are continuing normally, with no disruptions recorded.
In Ukraine, natural gas is mainly used for heating and cooking. In winter, the country uses gas stored in the summer to make up for insufficient production to meet consumer demand.
Ukraine’s underground gas storage facilities are concentrated in the west, including the Stryi region. Their role has become increasingly important since Kiev refused to renew its gas transit agreement with Russia.
Cao Phong (according to TASS, KYI, Reuters)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nga-tang-cuong-tan-cong-ten-lua-vao-ha-tang-khi-dot-cuaukraine-post330618.html
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