Russia hits Ukrainian energy sites in massive attack

A serviceman mourns next to a Ukrainian flag at a makeshift memorial for fallen soldiers at Independence Square in Kyiv, on November 10 2023. [AFP]

Russia launched a massive missile strike at Ukraine overnight, damaging four power plants in the latest barrage targeting the country's energy supply, officials in Kyiv said on Saturday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Kyiv's Western partners to supply more air defence systems to protect his country's skies, as the air force said it had shot down 21 of 34 incoming missiles.

Moscow has launched some of its biggest ever strikes on Ukraine's energy facilities in recent months. They have knocked out a significant chunk of production, triggering blackouts and energy rationing across the country.

Ukraine also said it hit two oil refineries and a military air base in southern Russia in its own wave of overnight drone attacks.

"Thirty-four Russian missiles overnight," Zelensky said in a post on Telegram.

"We managed to shoot down some of them. But the world has every opportunity to help (us) shoot down every missile and every drone."

In his evening speech on Saturday, he repeated his call for Patriot missile-defence systems "as soon as possible".

"It is still possible to provide the required quantity and quality of air-defence systems," he added. "We must not waste time."

Energy facilities were hit in at least three regions -- including Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk in the west, hundreds of kilometres from the front line - Ukraine's Energy Minister German Galushchenko said in a Facebook post.

One of the missiles landed 15 kilometres (nine miles) from the Polish-Ukrainian border, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

Kyiv says Moscow is escalating attacks from the air and on land ahead of nationwide celebrations on May 9, when Russia marks the Soviet victory in World War II.

Ukraine meanwhile is awaiting the arrival of crucial US weapons.

Washington announced a $6 billion package of military supplies to Kyiv to include key air defence munitions and artillery rounds Friday.

Energy rationing

The DTEK power operator said equipment at four of its thermal power plants had been "severely damaged" in the overnight strikes.

State electricity operator Ukrenergo said it had disconnected its main overhead power line in the west of the country as a preventative measure.

Officials urged people and businesses to limit their power usage.

"We ask all consumers to consume electricity sparingly," Ukrenergo said in a statement.

The head of the western Lviv region asked residents to limit the use of household appliances during peak evening hours.

At least two people were killed in separate shelling attacks on the northeastern Kharkiv and southern Kherson regions, Ukrainian officials said.

The spate of missile and artillery attacks also wounded more than a dozen people.

Russia's defence ministry said Saturday it had carried out 35 "group strikes" against Ukrainian energy sites, military factories, railway facilities, air defence systems and other targets over the last week.

68 drones downed

Ukraine launched its own massive drone attack on Russia's southern Krasnodar region overnight.

A Ukrainian defence source told AFP it had hit two oil refineries and a military airfield in the region, just east of the annexed Crimean peninsula.

"Ukrainian drones struck the atmospheric distillation columns of the Ilsky and Slavyansky refineries. These are key technological facilities," the source said.

Russian officials in the Krasnodar region reported a fire at an oil refinery in the town of Slavyansk-on-Kuban.

The refinery partially suspended operations as a result, Russian state media reported, citing a company representative.

Videos and photos on social media showed a large fire raging overnight at the site after a series of blasts.

Moscow said Ukraine had launched one of its largest ever attempted drone attacks on the Krasnodar region.

"Air defences destroyed and intercepted 66 Ukrainian drones over the territory of the Krasnodar region and two over the Crimean peninsula," the defence ministry said.

The governor of Russia's Belgorod border region said later on Saturday that five people were injured when a Ukrainian drone fell on a road a few kilometres from the border.

Kyiv has hit several oil refineries in western Russia in recent months, despite reports of concern in Washington that the strikes could be seen as escalatory and might drive up global oil prices.

Ukraine says targeting Russia's vital energy sector is legitimate as it is a source of fuel and funds for the Russian army.