Russia and Ukraine Resume Aerial Attacks on Infrastructure Amid Ongoing Conflict

KYIV, Ukraine — Russia and Ukraine engaged in renewed hostilities targeting each other's critical infrastructure, escalating their conflict now in its third year, officials confirmed Thursday.

The Ukrainian air force reported Russia's seventh major attack on Ukrainian power plants, deploying nine missiles and 27 Shahed drones aimed at energy facilities across central and eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted all drones and five cruise missiles, with extensive damage reported in Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, and Vinnytsia regions, resulting in seven injuries, according to Ukrenergo.

Despite efforts including electricity imports and emergency supplies from European countries, extended blackouts were announced nationwide, exacerbated by damage to facilities including a DTEK power plant where three employees were injured and equipment severely damaged.

In response, Ukraine's Security Service conducted cross-border drone strikes targeting Russian oil facilities, triggering fires at oil storage depots in two regions. The strikes aimed to disrupt Russia's military operations, escalating tensions further between the neighboring nations amid ongoing international concern.

Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed downing 15 Ukrainian drones but did not acknowledge damage from the attacks, underscoring the persistent and escalating conflict between the two countries.