Ukraine shoots down 10 missiles in Russian strikes, oil depot hit

KYIV, May 26 (Reuters) – Ukraine has seen 10 missiles and more than 20 drones shot down by Russia in nightly attacks on the capital Kiev, the city of Dnipro and eastern regions, Ukrainian officials said on Friday.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s office said in a statement that a fire had broken out on the outskirts of the northeastern city of Kharkiv after an oil depot was hit twice, and equipment for pumping oil products was damaged.

Russia this month intensified missile and drone strikes against Ukraine, mainly by attacking logistical and infrastructure facilities ahead of an expected Ukrainian counter-offensive.

The Ukrainian air force said it shot down 10 missiles fired from the Caspian Sea, 23 Iranian-made Shahed drones and two reconnaissance drones during the night strikes.

It said a total of 17 missiles and 31 drones had been launched during the attacks, which began around 10pm (1900 GMT) on Thursday and continued until 5am on Friday.

Several drones and several missiles hit targets in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, officials said.

There was no immediate report of any deaths.

“It was a very difficult night. It was loud – the enemy launched a massive attack on the region with missiles and drones,” Serhiy Lysak, the regional governor of Dnipropetrovsk, told the Telegram messaging app. “Dnipro has suffered.”

Lysak said several homes, cars and private businesses, including a transportation company and gas station, were damaged. A gas station employee was injured.

Officials in Kiev said the roof of a shopping mall, a residential house and several cars were damaged.

The governor of the Kharkiv region also reported damage to several private houses and industrial facilities.

Russia, which began its full-scale invasion 15 months ago, has launched hundreds of missile strikes since October last year to destroy critical infrastructure and energy supplies.

It has shifted the focus of its missile strikes to try to disrupt preparations for a Ukrainian counterattack, military officials have said.

Writing by Olena Harmash, Editing by Timothy Heritage

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