KYIV, Ukraine — Russian troops launched a significant missile assault overnight aimed at Ukraine’s energy and gas infrastructure, triggering emergency blackouts, according to Ukrainian officials. This incident is part of the ongoing conflict that has persisted for nearly three years amid renewed international efforts to seek a resolution.
Ukrenergo, the state energy enterprise of Ukraine, reported that the missile strike necessitated the immediate implementation of emergency blackouts. Throughout the course of the war, Russian forces have consistently targeted Ukraine’s power grid.
In a strategic move, Ukrainian drones attacked a crucial oil refinery located in Russia’s Saratov region, approximately 500 kilometers (300 miles) from the Ukrainian border, as per statements from military officials. This facility is vital for supplying gasoline, fuel oil, and diesel to the Russian military.
Amidst this conflict, international dialogues are being revived, with plans for senior advisers from former President Trump’s administration to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later this week during the Munich Security Conference to discuss potential peace initiatives.
Representatives from the U.S. administration attending the summit will include Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, who has been appointed as Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia.
Zelenskyy mentioned on Monday that Trump’s representatives are set to visit Ukraine before the Munich conference, although he did not disclose further specifics regarding the meeting.
Furthermore, Ukraine’s government is looking to find ways to avoid the imposition of new U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, as indicated by Yuliia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Economic Development Minister. Metallurgical goods constitute about 58% of Ukraine’s exports to the United States, generating more than $500 million in revenue over the past year.
Additionally, Ukraine is reportedly negotiating with Trump to secure continued military assistance in exchange for collaboration in developing the country’s mineral resources, specifically rare earth elements essential for cutting-edge technology.
The Ukrainian Air Force stated that Russia launched a total of 124 Shahed drones, alongside decoy drones, throughout the night, and at least 19 Russian missiles targeted various gas production facilities in Ukraine.
Details regarding the purported drone attack in Russia remain sparse. Reports from Russian officials typically lack comprehensive information on successful Ukrainian operations. The governor of the Saratov region, Roman Busargin, reported an incident involving a Ukrainian drone that caused a small fire and damage to an unspecified industrial site, which was extinguished within a few hours.
Unofficial Russian media hinted that the facility affected by the attack was the Saratov oil refinery, which is part of Russia’s state-owned oil conglomerate, Rosneft. Other unconfirmed reports suggested that Engels, a city with various industrial establishments in the Saratov region, was also targeted.
Additionally, a significant base housing Russia’s strategic bombers capable of nuclear operations lies just outside Engels. This location has faced repeated drone assaults from Ukraine since the conflict began, leading the Russian military to relocate many of its bombers.
