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Russian strikes across Ukraine kill four, damage energy infrastructure as battle for Pokrovsk intensifies
A Russian drone attack on a residential building in Dnipro, eastern Ukraine, killed three people and injured 12 others early Saturday morning as residents slept, Ukrainian authorities reported. The strike on Ukraine’s fourth-largest city came as part of a massive Russian barrage targeting power infrastructure nationwide that also claimed the life of an energy company worker in Kharkiv.
Emergency services reported that the drone strike ignited a fire in the nine-story apartment building, destroying multiple units. Among the injured were two children, officials confirmed.
The overnight assault was extensive, with Russia launching 458 drones and 45 missiles, including 32 ballistic missiles, according to Ukraine’s air force. Ukrainian defenses intercepted 406 drones and nine missiles, while strikes hit 25 locations across the country.
The widespread attacks forced authorities to implement emergency power shutdowns in several regions, Ukrainian Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk announced on social media.
Nearly four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, the bombardment of Ukrainian cities has become a grim daily reality, with civilian casualties mounting despite Moscow’s claims that it exclusively targets military and energy infrastructure supporting Ukraine’s war effort.
Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed that “several major energy facilities” near Kharkiv, Kyiv, and in the central Poltava region sustained damage during the attacks. “We are working to eliminate the consequences of the attacks across the country. The focus is on the rapid restoration of heating, electricity and water supply,” Svyrydenko stated.
The assault comes amid an escalating cycle of energy infrastructure attacks between the warring nations. Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian oil refineries with long-range drone strikes, aiming to cut off Moscow’s crucial petroleum export revenue that finances its war machine. Russia has responded by systematically attacking Ukraine’s power grid, which Ukrainian officials describe as “weaponizing winter” by depriving civilians of heat, electricity, and water during the coldest months.
Russian officials reported their own defensive operations, claiming to have repelled a “massive” Ukrainian drone attack on energy facilities in the southern Volgograd region. This announcement came just two days after Ukraine claimed to have successfully struck a key oil refinery in the area. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it shot down 82 Ukrainian drones overnight, including eight over the Volgograd region.
Meanwhile, the battle for strategic eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk has reached a critical phase. The city forms part of what analysts call the “fortress belt” of Donetsk, a line of heavily fortified urban centers vital to Ukraine’s defense of the region.
Russian forces claimed significant advances near Pokrovsk and the nearby town of Myrnohrad on Saturday, with the Russian Defense Ministry asserting both locations were now encircled. Moscow also claimed its troops had surrounded Ukrainian defenders in Kupiansk, an important railway hub in the northeastern Kharkiv region.
Ukrainian officials did not immediately respond to these claims, which could not be independently verified. They have previously acknowledged the dire situation in Pokrovsk while denying any blockade there or in Kupiansk, insisting that fighting continues.
Military analysts suggest the battle for Pokrovsk holds symbolic significance beyond its strategic value, as both Kyiv and Moscow seek to demonstrate battlefield momentum that could influence U.S. President Donald Trump’s stance toward the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded Ukraine cede the entire Donbas region—comprising Donetsk and neighboring Luhansk provinces—as a precondition for peace negotiations, claiming his forces are on the verge of victory.
The intensifying conflict comes as U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-year war have yielded little progress on the battlefield, where both sides continue to exchange devastating strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure with mounting casualties.
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8 Comments
The scale of these Russian strikes is deeply troubling. Targeting civilian infrastructure and residential areas is a reprehensible tactic that causes immense suffering. I hope the international community can step up efforts to hold Russia accountable and support Ukraine.
This is a grim reminder of the human cost of Russia’s invasion. Attacks on apartment buildings and energy sites show a disregard for civilian welfare. My heart goes out to the families impacted by this latest wave of strikes.
You’re absolutely right. These attacks are a clear violation of international law and human rights. The international community must continue to condemn Russia’s actions and provide Ukraine with the support it needs to defend its people and infrastructure.
It’s saddening to see the continued loss of innocent life in this conflict. The targeting of energy facilities is especially concerning, as it disrupts essential services for the civilian population. I hope Ukraine is able to swiftly restore power and aid the affected communities.
Tragic to see Russia continuing its assault on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure. This latest attack on an apartment block is absolutely heartbreaking. My condolences to the victims and their families.
The scale of these strikes is deeply concerning. Targeting power plants and homes shows a complete disregard for civilian lives. Ukraine’s resilience in the face of such attacks is truly admirable.
The relentless bombardment of Ukrainian cities is horrifying. Hitting energy sites and residential areas is a cruel tactic that causes immense suffering. I hope the international community can do more to hold Russia accountable.
You’re right, these attacks are a clear violation of international law. The human toll is devastating, and the damage to Ukraine’s critical infrastructure is crippling. The world must continue to support Ukraine and pressure Russia to end this senseless war.