Russian forces launched a massive missile and drone attack across Ukraine overnight, targeting energy and gas infrastructure in what marked the first large-scale assault since the United States halted military aid and intelligence sharing earlier this week.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia fired 67 missiles and 194 drones, of which 34 missiles and 100 drones were intercepted. The attack, stretching from Kharkiv in the northeast to Ternopil in the west, left multiple regions suffering damage. Officials confirmed at least ten injuries, including a child, in Poltava and Kharkiv.
“Russia continues its energy terror,” Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said. “Once again, energy and gas infrastructure in various regions of Ukraine has come under massive missile and drone fire.”
The strikes come amid mounting pressure on Kyiv as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seeks to maintain Western support following a diplomatic shift in Washington.
Following the attack, Zelensky reiterated his call for a ceasefire covering air and sea operations but excluding ground troops, an initiative first proposed by France.
“The first steps to establishing real peace should be forcing the sole source of this war—Russia—to stop such attacks,” Zelensky said in a statement on Telegram.
Tensions between Ukraine and the United States have escalated since Zelensky’s meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington last week. After their tense exchange, Trump indicated he viewed Zelensky as an obstacle to peace negotiations with Moscow.
Amid diplomatic efforts to mend relations, Zelensky announced he would meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Monday. The visit precedes planned discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia regarding a potential peace framework.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed ongoing talks with Ukrainian officials and stated that negotiations for a possible peace deal were underway. “Ukraine is ready to pursue the path to peace, and it is Ukraine that strives for peace from the very first second of this war,” Zelensky reiterated.
Despite these discussions, key differences remain between Kyiv and Washington. Ukraine continues to seek firm security guarantees, while the U.S. has not committed to long-term military aid, instead proposing alternative agreements, including a critical minerals partnership.
Friday’s strikes are part of an ongoing Russian campaign against Ukraine’s energy sector. Attacks on power stations and gas production sites have intensified in recent months, significantly reducing the country’s electricity generation capacity.
Naftogaz, Ukraine’s state energy company, confirmed that gas production facilities had been damaged but reported no casualties. Meanwhile, DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, was forced to suspend operations in the central Poltava region due to extensive damage.
The suspension of U.S. military aid may be impacting Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, analysts warn, as the country faces increasing difficulty in countering missile strikes due to depleting stockpiles of advanced interceptor missiles.
On the battlefield, Russian forces continue their advance in the eastern Donetsk region and have mounted offensives near Ukraine’s northern border with Russia’s Kursk region. The shifting military balance has raised concerns over Ukraine’s ability to hold territory without renewed Western support.
As Ukraine braces for further assaults, Zelensky’s government remains engaged in diplomatic efforts to secure international backing while seeking to reinforce its defenses amid an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
