Moscow has renewed attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities, prompting retaliatory attacks by Kiev on refineries.
Russia and Ukraine carried out renewed attacks on energy infrastructure overnight, damaging facilities and causing fires, officials from the warring countries said.
The Ukrainian army said in its regular situation report on Saturday that Russia had hit Ukraine with a “massive missile attack.” Energy Minister German Galushchenko also said in a Facebook post that the “enemy” had again attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
“In particular, facilities in the Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv regions were attacked. There is damage to the equipment,” he said.
Electricity operator DTEK said equipment at four thermal power plants was “severely damaged” in the overnight strikes.
State electricity operator Ukrenergo added that it had shut down its main overhead power line in the west of the country as a preventive measure.
“We ask all consumers to use electricity sparingly. Industry is encouraged to maximize electricity imports and use alternative energy sources,” Ukrenergo said.
Ukraine also said 21 of 34 drones were also shot down in Russia’s latest wave of attacks.
In recent months, Moscow has carried out some of its most serious attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities, knocking out significant amounts of production and triggering blackouts.
Kiev says Moscow is stepping up its attacks ahead of nationwide celebrations on May 9, when Russia celebrates victory in World War II and Ukraine awaits the arrival of much-anticipated U.S. weapons.
Ukraine targets Russian oil refineries
At the same time, Ukraine attacked the Ilski and Slavyansk oil refineries in Russia’s Krasnodar region with drones on Saturday morning, causing fires at the facilities, a Ukrainian intelligence source told Reuters.
The SBU security service carried out the attack, the unnamed source said, adding that the drones also attacked the Kushchevsk military air base in the same region overnight.
“The SBU continues to effectively target military and infrastructure facilities behind enemy lines,” the source said.
Al Jazeera’s John Holman reported from Kiev that Ukrainian companies had developed long-range drones that could fly to Russia and attack refineries.
“This strategy has been implemented over the last few weeks,” he said.
Kiev officials said they view Russian oil refineries as legitimate targets, although Western allies have called for the attacks to stop to prevent possible Russian retaliation and a rise in global oil prices.
Local authorities in Russia said the oil refinery in the Krasnodar region had suspended operations following the attack.
Roman Siniagovskyi, head of Russia’s Slavyansk administrative district, also said on Telegram that nine attacks had been carried out on the storage tank farm and the distillation column, a key piece of equipment in the refining process.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also reiterated on Saturday that there was currently no reason for peace talks due to Kiev’s formal refusal to negotiate with Moscow.
In 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree officially declaring the prospect of Ukrainian talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin “impossible,” while opening the door to talks with what he called “another president.” Russia” left open.