In a significant escalation, Russia targeted Ukrainian military facilities and gas infrastructure in a large-scale attack, according to reports. Overnight, a barrage of long-range drones and missiles was launched from various locations, successfully striking all designated targets, as reported by the Russian Ministry of Defence. Naftogaz, Ukraine’s state-owned energy firm, reported the attacks as the most extensive on gas extraction sites, causing severe damage, with approximately 35 missiles hitting facilities in the Kharkiv and Poltava regions. The recent strikes represent the largest since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, and coincide with attempts by Kyiv’s Western allies to foster peace talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks, stating that they were a crime and an extension of the war, whilst Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko highlighted the severity of the “massive attack,” mentioning that several cities, including Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro, Kremenchuk, Odesa, and Kyiv, were targeted.
