KYIV, May 26 (Reuters) – Ukraine shot down 10 missiles and more than 20 drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks on the capital Kyiv, the city of Dnipro and eastern regions, Ukrainian officials said on Friday.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s office said in a statement that a fire broke out on the outskirts of the northeastern city of Kharkiv after an oil depot was hit twice, and petroleum product pumping equipment had been damaged.
Russia has stepped up its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine this month, mainly attacking logistics and infrastructure facilities ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive.
The Ukrainian Air Force said it shot down 10 missiles fired from the Caspian Sea, 23 Iranian-made Shahed drones and two reconnaissance drones in the nighttime attacks.
He said a total of 17 missiles and 31 drones were launched in the attacks, which began around 10 p.m. (1900 GMT) Thursday and continued until 5 a.m. Friday.
Several drones and several missiles hit targets in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, officials said.
There was no immediate word of death.
“It was a very difficult night. It was noisy – the enemy launched a massive attack on the area with missiles and drones,” said Serhiy Lysak, the regional governor of Dnipropetrovsk, on the messaging app. Telegram. “Dnipro suffered.”
Lysak said several homes, cars and private businesses, including a transportation company and a gas station, were damaged. A gas station employee was injured.
Officials in kyiv said the roof of a shopping center, a private house and several cars were damaged.
The Kharkiv region governor also reported damage to several private homes and industrial facilities.
Russia, which began its full-scale invasion 15 months ago, has launched hundreds of missile attacks since last October, seeking to destroy critical infrastructure and power installations.
It shifted the focus of its missile strikes to try to disrupt preparations for a Ukrainian counterattack, military officials said.
Written by Olena Harmash, edited by Timothy Heritage
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