Russia initiated a series of destructive attacks throughout Ukraine, including a powerful assault involving drones and guided bombs in the early hours. The retaliatory strike focused on civilian structures and critical infrastructure in the contested areas of Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Sumy.
The bombardments caused severe damage to residential buildings, schools, and other vital facilities. In Zaporizhzhia, Russian forces launched an attack, shattering windows in apartment complexes and a kindergarten, as reported by regional governor Ivan Fedorov.
Details on casualties remain unclear. Fedorov mentioned, “Following the Russian assault, windows were shattered in residential buildings and a kindergarten in a district of the city.”
Fearing the impending danger, civilians and workers sought refuge upon receiving air force alerts in Zaporizhzhia about an incoming guided bomb. Fedorov stated, “Utility personnel have already started addressing the aftermath of the enemy’s attack, with no reported casualties, fortunately.”
In the Kharkiv region, the city of Chuhuiv faced a significant drone strike early Friday, with over ten drones targeting the area. Mayor Halyna Minaieva expressed, “Chuhuiv has once again been targeted by the enemy, with more than ten drones aimed at our city, impacting a civilian business and an educational institution, resulting in fires at the targeted locations.”
This incident followed Ukraine’s strategic strikes on Russia earlier in the week, focusing on energy plants and oil refineries. Kyiv’s military operations, carried out by the clandestine “Deep Strike” special forces unit, resulted in a substantial blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s resources, destroying one of Russia’s largest oil refineries and a significant power facility in Moscow.
The Deep Strike unit’s objective is to disrupt Russia’s oil exports, a critical source of funding for Putin’s military campaign in Ukraine. By targeting energy infrastructure, Ukraine aims to pressure Moscow into ending hostilities and engaging in peace negotiations.
Recent revelations by Ukraine’s Atesh partisan group highlighted a covert operative within Russia’s 115th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade who sabotaged a unit’s truck to prevent deployment to the conflict zone in Pokrovsk, a key logistics hub in the Donetsk region long sought after by Russian forces.
The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia involves cross-border missile exchanges, with Kyiv aiming to dismantle Moscow’s financial support for Putin’s war efforts while the Kremlin seeks to wear down Ukrainian civilians by disrupting energy infrastructure.
Despite Ukraine’s defense efforts, challenges persist due to inconsistent support from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has vacillated on backing Kyiv, at times siding with Putin and even criticizing Ukrainian President Zelensky.
Kyiv continues to appeal for additional air defense units to counter the relentless attacks by Russian troops, many of which are suspected of violating international laws by deliberately targeting hospitals and schools.
