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Ukrainian officials on Thursday said Russia launched 161 drones and a dozen missiles overnight, targeting gas infrastructure in northeastern Kharkiv region and hitting power supply in the southern Odesa region for a second night in a row.
The attack is said to be part of an intensified assault on Ukraine’s energy system over the past month as Russia discusses ending its war in Ukraine with the new US administration of President Donald Trump, who has blamed Ukraine for Russia’s invasion.
“The purpose of these criminal attacks is to stop the production of gas needed to meet the domestic needs of citizens and central heating,” Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Galushchenko said.
According to the Ukrainian military, it shot down 80 drones and 78 were lost, likely due to electronic countermeasures, adding that Russia also fired about 14 missiles aimed at what it called critical infrastructure in Kharkiv.
Ukraine’s main gas production capacity, which covers almost half of Ukrainian gas needs, is in the frontline Kharkiv and neighbouring Poltava regions.
In a statement, Ukrainian state oil and gas firm, Naftogaz said that its gas production facilities in several regions were damaged in the latest attack.
“The situation is under control, although very difficult,” Naftogaz CEO Roman Chumak said.
Chumak added that the company is preparing for all possible scenarios and continues to import gas.
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