Russia attacked Ukraine’s energy sector, killing 7 people and injuring 47 others, including 4 children. on August 26 (updating)

Russian Federation attacked Ukraine’s energy sector overnight of August 26, 2024. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that six Tu-22M3 strategic bombers have taken off in Russia. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia launched more than 100 missiles and about 100 attack drones.

Ukraine’s air force has issued another update, saying currently attack drones are still flying over Ukraine’s airspace.

Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko called on Facebook the situation difficult.

“The aftermath of the attacks is being assessed. Power engineers are already working on mitigating the damage,” he said. 

According to Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, 15 regions of the country were attacked by Russians, They launched not just drones and cruise missiles but Kinzhal ballistic missiles as well, which are much harder to intercept.

Kyiv authorities said that energy and water infrastructure were targeted, including a hydropower plant in the Kyiv region where a dam was damaged.

Russian military sources have now confirmed that they used “high-precision weapons” to strike “important energy infrastructure” in Ukraine, according to the Interfax news agency.

Regional officials claimed a total of at least seven killed people and 47 injured others, including four children.

According to Ruslan Kravchenko, head of the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration, on Facebook, four people were injured. One of them is a child.

Kravchenko reported that the destruction occurred in all seven districts of the oblast, damaging energy facilities, over 40 houses, 5 cars, warehouses, garages, and fences.

Filip Pronin, head of the Poltava Oblast Military Administration, reported on Telegram that the Russian Armed Forces attacked an industrial facility in the Poltava Oblast, injuring five people.

According to Lutsk Mayor Ihor Polishchuk on Telegram, Russians damaged an apartment building in Lutsk, Volyn Oblast. One man was killed in that city.

The head of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration, Ivan Fedorov, reported that Russians murdered a civilian in the Zaporizhzhia district. They struck near a private house, killing a man.

Serhii Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, confirmed one death as of now. Later, Lysak reported that during the shelling of Nikopol, a man, 47, was killed. According to preliminary information, there are six victims. Among them is a 14-year-old girl. Everyone was hospitalised. One person is in serious condition, while the others are in moderate condition.

“The aggressor launched a large-scale attack on the oblast in the morning. Explosions were heard in the Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih districts… Early reports indicate that a 69-year-old man has been killed,” he reported. 

Lysak said several fires have also broken out, including one involving a holiday home.

In Izyum, in the Kharkiv Oblast, a man was killed in a missile strike, the regional head said. Additionally, in Zhytomyr, a woman died after homes and infrastructure buildings were hit by missiles, as the regional head reported.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy goes on to call on Western allies to send Ukraine to use long-range weapons and allow them to hit areas in Russia from which attacks are launched.

Ukraine must not have restrictions on the range when terrorists have none. Defenders of life must have no restrictions on using weapons," said Ukrainian president.

Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba outlined on X two specific decisions that partners can make to help Ukraine put an end to Russian terror sooner. First, affirming Ukraine’s long-range strikes on all legitimate military targets on Russian territory. Second, agreeing to use partners’ air defense capabilities to shoot down missiles and drones close to their airspace.

“None of these decisions are escalatory. To the contrary, they will deter Russia, help to reduce terror and the number of Russian attacks, as well as the resulting casualties. Act now, not later. Help us save lives,” the minister commented.

To provide context, the next wave of missile and drone strikes comes nearly three weeks into a Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk Oblast on Russian territory.

Zelenskyy said the Kursk operation aimed to capture Russian soldiers – which led to a prisoner swap and the release of 115 Ukrainians in exchange for the same number of Russians on Saturday.

He has also added it was a preventative strike to deter Russian attacks towards the bordering Sumy region of Ukraine, as well as stating there are other goals he could not disclose.

Zelenskyy explained Ukraine would do everything to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war through diplomacy.