Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy sites intensify amid holiday remembrance

Russian forces conducted a massive attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure facilities overnight, using aviation and strike drones, the country's authorities reported on Wednesday morning.

Because of Russian aircraft activity, the alarm in some regions of Ukraine lasted over six hours. In Kyiv, sirens went off at 00:47 GMT; the alarm was called off a few minutes after 04:00 GMT. Another alarm was announced 22 minutes later and lasted 28 minutes.

The Operational Command of the Armed Forces (DORSZ) announced in a statement on the X platform that due to Russian long-range aviation activity near Poland's eastern border, Polish and allied aircraft were scrambled into the air on Wednesday morning.

"The enemy does not give up plans to deprive Ukrainians of light. Facilities for the generation and transmission of electricity in the regions Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Vinnytsia were attacked," Minister of Energy Herman Halushchenko stated.

The head of the Kyiv city military administration, Serhiy Popko, reported that all targets headed for Kyiv were destroyed by air defence. He revealed that the Russians launched the manoeuvring missiles Kh-101, Kh-555, and Kh-55 from Tu-95MS strategic bombers.

"According to preliminary information, there are no injuries or damaged buildings in the capital," Popko wrote on Telegram.

The official noted that Russia conducted another attack on Ukraine on May 8, observed in this country as the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation, dedicated to the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

"Modern-day fascists, the Russian nationalists, continue to murder the civilian population" – stated Popko.