Ukraine Suffers Russian Attacks While Targeting Russian Facilities

Four individuals, including a child, died in Russian attacks on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, and surrounding areas, local officials reported on Saturday. Meanwhile, Ukraine targeted another oil refinery in Russia.

Residents endure constant drone and missile bombardments, which Ukraine’s weakened air defenses struggle to counter during Moscow’s ongoing invasion. Ukrainian attacks on oil facilities have led to fuel shortages, unsettling Russians.

Tragic Loss in Brovary District

Two grandparents and their three-year-old grandson died when multiple Russian drones destroyed their home in the Brovary district, northeast of Kyiv, early Saturday. Three family members and a neighbor who tried to help were hospitalized. The attack reduced the house to rubble and damaged nearby structures and vehicles.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that at least one more person died in a ballistic missile attack on civilian infrastructure.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported downing or intercepting 135 of the 151 drones launched by Russia overnight. The assault also involved six ballistic missiles and other guided projectiles.

Ukraine Strikes Back

Russia has persistently targeted Ukraine’s civilian areas, despite Moscow’s claims of only hitting military sites. The Kremlin exploits Ukraine’s critical shortage of interceptors for American-made Patriot defense systems, the sole air defense against ballistic missiles.

Zelenskyy has appealed to countries, especially the U.S., for more ammunition, which is now in short supply due to the conflict with Iran. Failing that, he seeks to manufacture Patriot ammunition in Ukraine or gain permission from Elon Musk to use his Starlink satellite communications for guiding strikes inside Russia.

Following recent offensives, Zelenskyy urged for more sanctions to hinder ballistic missile production, along with anti-ballistic capabilities and interceptor missiles.

Defense Achievements

Ukraine’s air defenses shot down around 5,300 drones and missiles last month, reported Kyiv’s Defense Ministry on Friday, just under 60% of the nearly 9,000 drones and projectiles launched by Russia during the same period.

Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Oil Facilities

In Russia, six people were injured due to a fire at the Ilsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region, caused by drone debris, local authorities said.

Ukraine’s General Staff stated that its forces attacked the installation in Krasnodar and the Syzran oil refinery in Samara, over 500 miles from the border.

The governor of Russia’s Samara region, Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, mentioned drones hitting an “industrial enterprise” but did not specify the refinery.

Ukraine’s long-range attacks with domestically made drones and missiles have targeted Russian oil facilities for months, causing a fuel crisis that embarrasses the Kremlin.

Zelenskyy Visits Serbia

The recent attacks came hours after Zelenskyy’s first official visit to Serbia, one of the few European countries maintaining friendly ties with Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine.

“Important discussions are scheduled for today and tomorrow,” noted Zelenskyy on Friday, adding that he would meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Djuro Macut.

“We’ll discuss expanding economic ties between our countries, relations with the European Union, and other practical opportunities that benefit our people, as well as security issues,” Zelenskyy explained.

Elise Morton from The Associated Press contributed to this report from London.