Russian Drone and Missile Strikes Devastate Ukraine Overnight

Russian drones and missiles launched overnight in Ukraine resulted in two civilian deaths and significant damage to energy and railway infrastructure across the country. Missiles targeted facilities in the Kharkiv region, causing additional casualties and damage to residential and commercial buildings. Ukrainian air defense was partially effective against the drone attacks.

Russian drones and missiles struck overnight in Ukraine, killing two civilians and hitting energy facilities and railway infrastructure across the country, officials said on Saturday.

Oleh Syniehubov, regional governor for the Kharkiv region, reported that Iskander missiles targeted an infrastructure facility in the small town of Barvinkove in the northeast. The attack killed two people and injured three more. Syniehubov provided no specific details about the targeted facility but stated via the Telegram messaging app that more than 50 residential houses, administrative, and commercial buildings were damaged as a result.

The Ukrainian air force noted that Russian forces launched four ballistic Iskander missiles in the overnight assault. While the Ukrainian air defense failed to intercept these missiles, they managed to shoot down 13 out of 17 Russian drones that attacked various regions in the east, north, and center of the country.

Ukrenergo, the national grid operator, announced that drones attacked electricity distribution points in the central Poltava region, the northeastern Sumy region, and the northern Chernihiv region. As a result, emergency power cuts were implemented for both industrial and residential consumers in the affected areas. Furthermore, the Ukrainian Railways indicated that the overnight attacks caused damage to railway infrastructure in parts of the Kharkiv region, subsequently delaying some passenger trains.

(With inputs from agencies.)