Russian forces launched a series of attacks on Ukraine’s northeastern city of Sumy and the central city of Kropyvnytskyi on Wednesday. The attacks targeted energy infrastructure and resulted in the death of one person, regional authorities reported.
Russian Drone Strikes and Missiles
Ukraine’s air force successfully intercepted 46 of the 52 drones launched by Russia overnight. Moscow also used three guided air missiles, which failed to reach their targets, according to Ukrainian officials. The drone attacks primarily aimed at Sumy, where energy infrastructure has been repeatedly hit, forcing the use of back-up power systems.
Authorities in Sumy reported shooting down 16 drones over the region, which has been a key target of Russia’s ongoing strategy to disrupt Ukraine’s energy system.
Casualties and Damage in Kropyvnytskyi
In Kropyvnytskyi, located in Ukraine’s central Kirovohrad region, one person was killed and a 90-year-old woman was injured. Several residential buildings were damaged in the attack, but no critical infrastructure was affected in the area surrounding Kyiv, where air defences successfully activated.
Ukraine’s Winter Preparations Amid Ongoing Attacks
As winter approaches, Ukraine is preparing its energy infrastructure for the colder months. Oleksiy Kuleba, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister, announced the establishment of a coordination headquarters to protect Sumy’s energy facilities and reinforce critical infrastructure.
Russia has been consistently targeting Ukraine’s energy system since the start of its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukrainian officials believe these attacks are intended to weaken the country’s energy supply ahead of the winter season.
Ukrainian Counterattack on Russian Targets
On the offensive front, Ukraine’s SBU state security service confirmed a successful drone attack on a Russian military warehouse in the Tver region. The attack reportedly destroyed missiles, guided bombs, and artillery ammunition, marking a significant blow to Russian forces.
(With Inputs from Reuters)
