Russia persists in launching daily bombardments on Ukrainian cities using waves of drones and missiles while ceasefire negotiations seem to have stalled amid the conflict in Iran. Kyiv reports its counterattacks on Russian oil infrastructure are yielding positive results.
Russian assaults continue targeting multiple urban centers across Ukraine as the Kremlin shows no intention of halting operations, and diplomatic progress appears blocked due to the ongoing US-Israeli conflict in Iran monopolizing international attention.
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According to Ukrainian authorities, Russian drone attacks targeted the northeastern Kharkiv region during the overnight hours leading into Saturday.
The strikes predominantly struck residential structures and civilian infrastructure. Officials reported that a 12-story apartment building was damaged by Iranian-made Shahed drones deployed by Russia, affecting the exterior and causing injuries.
One individual sustained shrapnel injuries to the chest when a drone struck the building’s 11th floor, where his apartment is located. Another resident was wounded by glass fragments, as reported by Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.
Multiple civilian vehicles were also damaged during the drone strike on a parking area adjacent to the residential complex.
Two fatalities occurred when a Russian attack hit a civilian public bus in the Dniprovskyi district within southern Kherson region during the early hours of Saturday.
The victims included a utility worker and a woman whose identity remains unconfirmed. Seven passengers—six males and one female—were injured and have been hospitalized for treatment.
Reports from the Kherson Military Administration note that a separate set of attacks led to one fatality and ten additional injuries throughout the southern region.
The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that over 160 drones were launched by the Kremlin, striking 12 locations nationwide from night through early Saturday morning.
They indicated that approximately 140 drones were successfully intercepted or neutralized electronically, while around twenty-four managed to hit their intended targets. The military also cautioned that further assaults are anticipated and that their forces remain alert to respond accordingly.
At the same time, Ukrainian drone operations have recorded effective strikes on energy infrastructure deep inside Russian territory.
These attacks are designed to cut Moscow’s oil export revenue, which is critical for financing its prolonged invasion of Ukraine. However, the economic consequences remain uncertain since higher oil prices from the Iran conflict, coupled with relaxed US sanctions, have somewhat replenished Kremlin funds.
Kyiv’s drones have repeatedly struck the oil refinery and export terminal in Tuapse, a Black Sea port, four times within just over two weeks. These strikes triggered fires that led to evacuations nearby and produced large plumes of smoke. Tuapse lies roughly 450 kilometers from the frontlines.
Ukraine reported on Thursday consecutive strikes on an oil pumping station in Russia’s Perm region, over 1,500 kilometers from Ukraine’s borders. Russian news outlets confirmed attacks on industrial sites, while Perm Governor Dmitry Makhonin described the events simply as drone hits on industrial facilities.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Friday that since the year’s start, Russia has incurred at least $7 billion (€5.97 billion) in losses directly related to assaults on its oil sector.
Earlier this week, he shared intelligence showing a decline in exports from crucial oil ports including Ust-Luga and Primorsk.
Experts highlight that Ukraine’s attacks have not only impeded Russia’s oil refining operations but the impact of sanctions limits access to replacement parts, worsening the situation.
Additional sources • AP