Friday’s Coverage: Russia’s “Massive Attack” Cuts Water and Energy in Kyiv

UPDATE 1108 GMT:

Ukraine has hit another oil refinery deep inside Russia.

Drones struck and set afire the Bashnafta-UNPZ refinery in Ufa in the Bashkortostan Republic on Saturday morning.

The complex is around 1,400 km (870 miles) from the frontline in Ukraine.

UPDATE 1055 GMT:

The toll has risen to two killed and three injured from Russia’s attack on energy workers in the Chernihiv region in northern Ukraine.

The Russians attacked a vehicle with a drone, then struck again as colleagues tried to rescue victims. A fire truck was damaged.

UPDATE 0735 GMT:

At least four civilians were murdered and at least 18, including a child, by Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day.

Air defenses intercepted 54 of 78 drones, while 21 hit six locations.

In the Chernihiv region in northern Ukraine, an employee of an energy company was killed and four injured by a drone which set a fire. Russian attacks targeted emergency services who arrived at the scene.

In the Donetsk region in the east, two civilians were slain and four injured.

In the Zaporizhzhia region in the south, a 66-year-old woman was murdered.

Casualties were also recorded in the Kharkiv, Kherson, Odesa, and Sumy regions.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia has reached “a new low in depravity”, with Vladimir Putin “taking advantage” of the world’s attention on Gaza to strike Ukrainian energy infrastructure and other civilian sites.

Zelensky addressed the nation as emergency crews repaired the damage from massive Russian attacks over the past 24 hours. Power was restored to more than 725,000 families in the Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv regions; however, “the situation remained difficult” in Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Donetsk “due to security challenges” amid more Russian attacks.

Only one response can be given to this: more strength, more air defenses to protect our critical infrastructure, and increased pressure on Russia so that they are truly held accountable for everything they do. Sanctions must be tightened – and we are discussing it with partners – and Russian assets must be fully used to strengthen our defense and ensure recovery.

Air defenses downed 405 of 465 drones and 15 of 32 missiles, but 60 drones and 13 missiles struck 19 locations. Zelensky told reporters, “Weather conditions affected our capability to repel by something like 20-30%,” with low visibility in Kyiv and eastern Ukraine.

Zelensky added that he was “not satisfied” with the protection of energy facilities such as thermal power plants. Singling out Kyiv and implicitly criticizing Mayor Vitalii Klitschko, he said, “We cannot use Patriot missiles against drones. What questions might I have for the mayor? I could tell you now what I think about all this, but I won’t.”

Conversations with Other Leaders About Russia Assets and Air Defense

Zelensky pursued his requests for pressure on Russia with conversations with leaders such as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde.

The President discussed the “fair use” of frozen Russian assets with Lagarde. “There are solutions for how this can be done,” he said. “We are getting closer to a decision on the assets, and I thank everyone who is helping.”

The talks with Merz and Starmer focused on toughened sanctions against Russian and the supply of US weapons to Ukraine via sale to NATO countries. Zelensky noted that Germany has already arranged with Norway to provide two more US-made Patriot air defense systems.

He added in a press conference that a Ukrainian delegation will visit Washington to negotiate the purchase of air defense and HIMARS rocket systems.