Russia strikes at Ternopil and Kharkiv, energy sector under attack - Consequences
Energy and gas infrastructure of Ukraine came under massive attack (photo: t.me/mvs_ukraine)
Russia has carried out another massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine, targeting energy and gas infrastructure in various regions. There have been hits in Kharkiv, Ternopil, Odesa, and Chernihiv regions, hitting important facilities. People have been injured.
Content
- What the Russians attacked with
- Energy and gas infrastructure under attack
- Сonsequences of attack on regions
- Poland raises its air force
- Zelenskyy's reaction
In the evening, Russians launched Shahed drones. Later it became known that the enemy used Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea. Later in the morning, missiles from Tu-95MS bombers began flying into Ukrainian airspace. The Ukrainian Air Force also reported the takeoff of a MiG-31K fighter jet, which carries Kinzhal air defense missiles, but this message was later deleted.
What the Russians attacked with
Given the warnings from the Air Force during the attack, the enemy used Shahed attack drones, ballistics, sea- and air-launched cruise missiles.
At the same time, according to the Ukrainian Navy spokesperson, Captain Dmytro Pletenchuk, during this attack, the enemy used the most massive Kalibr missiles from the Black Sea. Russian troops used almost 20 such missiles.
"The Russians used their usual tactics: leave the bay, strike and return. In the morning, there were still three units at sea, two of them equipped. It is impossible to say that this is an unusual event," he said.
According to him, this was the third use of cruise missiles from the Black Sea since the beginning of the year, with one missile strike in January, February, and now in March.
"That is, we cannot say that they are actively using them, but nevertheless, since the beginning of the year, this was the most massive use, they launched almost two dozen missiles from the Black Sea," Pletenchuk noted.
According to the published report of the Air Force, in total, Russian troops launched 261 air attack weapons at Ukraine - 67 missiles of various types and 194 drones. We managed to shoot down 34 missiles and 100 drones, another 86 enemy imitator drones were lost.
In particular, destroyed:
- 25 out of 35 Kh-101/Kh-55cm cruise missiles;
- 8 out of 8 cruise missiles Caliber;
- 0 out of 3 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles;
- 0 out of 4 S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles;
- 1 out of 8 Kh-59/69 guided aircraft missiles;
- 100 out of 194 Shahed-type attack UAVs and other types of imitator drones.
In addition, up to ten enemy missiles (not included in the statistics of those shot down) did not reach their targets.
The enemy's air attack was repelled by anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare assets, and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Air Force and Defense Forces. Fighter aircraft, including F-16 and Mirage-2000 aircraft, were also involved.
"It is worth noting that French fighters, who arrived in Ukraine only a month ago, took part in repelling an enemy air attack for the first time," the Air Force said.
Energy and gas infrastructure under attack
In the wake of the missile and drone attack, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said that Russia continues its energy terror.
"Once again the energy and gas infrastructure in different regions of Ukraine came under massive missile and drone fire. Wherever possible, rescuers and power engineers are working to eliminate the consequences. All the necessary measures are being taken to stabilize energy and gas supplies," he wrote on Facebook.
The Minister noted that "the Russian Federation is trying to hurt ordinary Ukrainians" by shelling energy and gas production facilities, not abandoning its goal of leaving Ukraine without electricity and heat, causing the greatest harm to ordinary citizens.
"The situation in the power system may change. Follow the official announcements," the Energy Minister said.
Later it became known that the occupiers had already carried out the 17th combined attack on the gas infrastructure facilities of Naftogaz Group. Production facilities that ensure gas production were damaged.
"We are currently eliminating the consequences of the shelling and assessing the damage. Naftogaz Group is taking all necessary measures to restore the operation of the facilities that were attacked by the enemy," said Roman Chumak, CEO of Naftogaz Group.
Сonsequences of attack on regions
Odesa region
First, the enemy once again resorted to a massive drone attack in the Odesa region. In the suburbs of Odesa, three private residential buildings caught fire. Energy and civilian infrastructure facilities were also hit.
In particular, Russia has damaged DTEK's sixth energy facility in the region.
"For the fourth night in a row, the enemy has been conducting devastating attacks on DTEK's energy facilities in Odesa Oblast. This is the sixth attack in the last 2.5 weeks," the company said.
At least 10 private houses in the suburbs of Odesa, outbuildings, a gas pipeline and cars were also damaged and destroyed. The enemy attack left more than two and a half thousand local residents without electricity.
In the morning, the enemy also fired missiles at the region. In Podilskyi district, a private one-story residential building caught fire as a result of the fall of one of the cruise missile fragments, and four other houses were damaged. Rescuers extinguished the fire.
In addition, 16 private houses in Podilskyi district of the Odesa region were damaged by a missile attack at night.
Ternopil
During the missile attack, Ternopil was hit in particular. The mayor of the city, Serhiy Nadal, reported the attack on the city.
"The necessary services are working. Do not post photos and videos. More details later," he wrote on Facebook.
Later, the head of the Ternopil Regional Military Administration, Vyacheslav Nehoda, clarified that as a result of a nighttime enemy attack in the Ternopil region, there were missile hits at a critical industrial facility.
"There may be restrictions on gas supply. Air defense forces shot down an enemy missile. There were no casualties. Relevant services are eliminating the consequences," informed Nehoda.
Aftermath of the attack on the Ternopil region (photo: t.me/dsns_telegram)
Aftermath of the attack on the Ternopil region (photo: t.me/dsns_telegram)
Aftermath of the attack on the Ternopil region (photo: t.me/dsns_telegram)
Aftermath of the attack on the Ternopil region (photo: t.me/dsns_telegram)
During the telethon, he said that 2 out of 6 missiles hit the gas transmission network, air defense forces shot down 4 missiles, and 2 Shaheds were also shot down in the region.
"The fire has been eliminated. However, there is a danger of pressure drop in the gas network in many settlements. We have already warned about this. Now we are working primarily on social infrastructure facilities. And of course, we also appeal to all residents: if possible, limit gas consumption as much as possible, including for non-household consumers," said Nehoda.
Later, he gave a briefing on the consequences of the attack in the region, where he said that the enemy launched 7 missiles at the Ternopil region and managed to shoot down 5 of them, the rest hit an important critical infrastructure facility.
"There was a gas fire, the State Emergency Service eliminated the consequences. As of now, the fire has been completely eliminated. There were no casualties or injuries... As for the air situation. Air quality is currently being measured. The results will be reported later," he said.
Nadal, for his part, said that the regional gas company had disconnected non-household consumers due to a drop in pressure in the networks. There are also possible restrictions on the supply of hot water and centralized heating if the pressure is not restored.
Kharkiv
In the morning, Russian ballistic missiles attacked Kharkiv, a missile hit the city center in the Kyiv district. The strike was on a civilian infrastructure facility. A woman was pulled out of the rubble and handed over to doctors, said Mayor Ihor Terekhov.
A fire broke out at the site of the infrastructure strike. An apartment building nearby was also damaged.
Russians attacked Kharkiv with ballistic missiles (photo: t.me/mvs_ukraine)
Russians attacked Kharkiv with ballistic missiles (photo: t.me/mvs_ukraine)
Russians attacked Kharkiv with ballistic missiles (photo: t.me/mvs_ukraine)
Russians attacked Kharkiv with ballistic missiles (photo: t.me/mvs_ukraine)
Russians attacked Kharkiv with ballistic missiles (photo: t.me/mvs_ukraine)
Later, the head of the JMA, Oleh Syniehubov, clarified that the enemy struck the city with an Iskander missile. Currently, heat supply is being restored to 8 apartment buildings, which includes 670 subscribers.
"Five cars and 10 garages caught fire, and there was a fire in an apartment. More than 30 private sector buildings were damaged," Syniehubov wrote.
There are currently 8 victims of the morning attack in Kharkiv.
Poltava region
According to the Air Force, there were ballistic missile attacks in the Poltava region. In Myrhorod district, the fragments of an enemy target fell on a private house. Two people were injured, including a child. They are hospitalized.
Two private houses and a household gas pipeline were also damaged. The number of disconnected subscribers is being established.
Private house in the Poltava region was damaged by debris (photo: t.me/poltavskaOVA)
Chernihiv region
At night, a large explosion occurred in Pryluky. In the morning, the head of the UMA, Vyacheslav Chaus, reported that a production facility was damaged.
"Russian terrorists attacked Ukrainian critical infrastructure facilities. In the Chernihiv region, explosions were heard in Pryluky - one of the production facilities was damaged. It is unchanged: Russia is a terrorist. Terrorists must be stopped by force," he wrote on his Telegram channel.
Carpathian region
At dawn, the enemy attacked Prykarpattia. They targeted infrastructure facilities.
"During the air raid, explosions were heard in the region. Air defense forces were working. According to preliminary information, there were no casualties or damage. We are sincerely grateful to our sky defenders," wrote Svitlana Onyshchuk, head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Military Administration.
Poland raised its air force
Because of the Russian missile attack, Poland and its allies have been deploying their military aircraft. According to the Polish Armed Forces Command on social media platform X, the army activated fighter jets for duty, and ground-based air defense and radar systems were put on high alert.
"Due to the intense activity of Russian long-range aviation, which strikes at targets located, in particular, in western Ukraine, Polish and allied aircraft have begun operating in our airspace," the statement said.
Zelenskyy's reaction
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to today's massive attack, noting that nearly 70 missiles - cruise and ballistic, as well as nearly two hundred attack drones - were used by the enemy against the infrastructure that ensures normal life.
"Repair and restoration works are underway wherever necessary. Unfortunately, there is also damage to ordinary residential buildings. In Kharkiv, a Russian missile hit near a house. People were injured. The necessary assistance is being provided," he wrote.
The Head of State informed that F-16 aircraft and Mirage-2000 provided by France had been used to protect the Ukrainian sky today.
"In particular, the Mirages successfully worked against Russian cruise missiles. Thank you! I would also like to recognize our anti-aircraft missile troops, army aviation, all our electronic warfare units and mobile fire groups for the result," Zelenskyy emphasized.
He emphasized that the first step to establishing real peace should be to force the only source of this war, Russia, to stop such strikes.
"And it is possible to control this. Silence in the sky - a ban on the use of missiles, long-range drones, and bombs. And also silence at sea - a real guarantee of normal navigation. Ukraine is ready to go the way of peace, and it is Ukraine that wants peace from the very first second of this war. The task is to force Russia to stop the war," the president added.
The main target of Putin's massive strikes remains the Ukrainian energy sector. In addition, hostile attacks on Ukrainian gas production intensified in January and February of this year, after Ukraine stopped transiting Russian gas through its territory due to the expiration of the contract.
Today was the first massive combined drone and missile attack on Ukraine by Russia since the suspension of military assistance and intelligence to the Ukrainian Defense Forces by the United States.
As reported by a number of Western media outlets, such a pause will significantly affect Ukraine's ability to repel attacks, while RBC-Ukraine's sources assure that the Trump administration's possible intelligence demarche will not affect the ability of our air defense to "see".
Sources: data from the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, statements of the heads of regional authorities and mayors, data from the State Emergency Service, the National Police, the Prosecutor General's Office, and regional prosecutor's offices, Naftogaz Group, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Polish Armed Forces Command in social network X, and others.
