Smoke rises over Kremenchuk after Russian missile strikes on energy facilities. (Courtesy/France 24)
By Daisy Okiring
Russia carried out one of its heaviest bombardments this month against Ukraine overnight, striking the central city of Kremenchuk and several other regions in an assault that Ukrainian officials say proves Moscow has no interest in peace.
The attack came only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and European leaders in Washington in a bid to chart a pathway toward ending the war. Ukrainian officials described the strikes as a direct rejection of diplomatic efforts.
According to Ukraine’s air force, Moscow launched 270 drones and 10 missiles during the overnight assault. Ukrainian defenses managed to intercept 230 drones, but 16 sites were struck across the country. Images shared by Kremenchuk Mayor Vitalii Maletskyi showed a vast plume of black smoke rising over the city following multiple explosions.
Energy and Infrastructure Hit
Local authorities reported that energy facilities in Kremenchuk were heavily damaged, leaving nearly 1,500 households without electricity. The Ministry of Energy confirmed fires had broken out after several sites were hit, sparking concerns over further power disruptions.
Russia’s Defence Ministry later claimed responsibility, saying its forces had targeted an oil refinery supplying Ukraine’s military. Kremenchuk is home to one of Ukraine’s largest refineries, though Moscow did not specify whether it was the one struck.
In a statement, Maletskyi accused President Vladimir Putin of deliberately escalating hostilities. “Once again, the world has seen that Putin does not want peace — he wants to destroy Ukraine,” he said, warning residents not to touch unexploded munitions scattered around the city.
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Escalating Strikes Across Borders
Beyond Kremenchuk, Russia also launched a drone attack on Ukraine’s Chernihiv region, where more than 30,000 households were left without power after critical infrastructure was damaged.
Meanwhile, Moscow accused Kyiv of conducting overnight drone strikes on Russian territory. Officials said a Ukrainian attack set fire to an oil refinery and damaged the roof of a hospital in the Volgograd region.
Both Russia and Ukraine have increasingly targeted infrastructure — particularly oil facilities — deep inside each other’s territories, heightening fears of a prolonged war of attrition.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the strikes, writing on X (formerly Twitter): “While hard work to advance peace was underway in Washington, Moscow continued to do the opposite of peace: more strikes and destruction.”
The escalation underscores the fragile state of international efforts to negotiate an end to the war. Despite renewed talks, the fighting shows no signs of slowing, with both sides intensifying their focus on crippling each other’s energy and logistics networks.
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