MOSCOW: Russia has intercepted about 68 Ukrainian drones overnight from Friday to Saturday in its southern Krasnodar region and over Crimea, the country’s Defence ministry claimed on Saturday. The Ministry of Defence stated that 66 of the drones were shot down over Krasnodar and the other two over the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014.
Krasnodar regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev said in a statement via social media that they tried to attack oil refineries and infrastructure. The officials said that there are no injuries or serious damage in the area.
Ukraine has stepped up drone attacks in recent months, in particular targeting Russia’s energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko said that Russia attacked Ukraine’s energy facilities in three areas on Saturday, damaging equipment and also injuring at least one worker.
Galushchenko said in a statement via social media that the Russian attacks targeted the Dnipropetrovsk region in central Ukraine and the western regions. DTEK, Ukraine’s private energy firm, said its four thermal power stations were attacked.
In a statement, the firm said that “the enemy again massively attacked the Ukrainian energy facilities.” The firm’s equipment was also damaged. At this very moment, workers are also trying to eliminate the consequences of the strike. The firm said there were casualties but provided no other information in this regard.
Since March 22, the Russian troops have ramped up their attacks of the Ukrainian power sector, hitting thermal and hydropower stations and other energy infrastructure almost on daily basis.
