Russia strikes Ukrainian gas facilities, killing 5
Al Jazeera Staff
Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian gas facilities in Poltava and Kharkiv killed five people and wounded 37, cutting supply to nearly 3,500 homes. The attacks occurred after both sides announced unilateral ceasefires. Ukraine also struck a major Russian oil refinery, causing a fire but no casualties.
At least five people were killed in Russian airstrikes targeting state-owned Ukrainian gas facilities in the Poltava and Kharkiv regions, Ukrainian authorities reported. The strikes came just one day after Kyiv and Moscow announced unilateral ceasefires expected to take effect later this week.
Serhiy Koretskyi, CEO of the state energy company Naftogaz, said three employees and two rescue workers died, while 37 others were injured in the overnight barrage of missiles and drones on Tuesday.
“We have suffered significant damage and production losses. This was a combined attack using drones and ballistic missiles,” Koretskyi stated, adding that the strike cut off gas supply to nearly 3,500 customer households.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russian officials of showing “absolute cynicism” by declaring a ceasefire while launching missiles and drones at his country. “Russia can stop firing at any time, and that would end the war and our responses. Peace is necessary, and real steps are needed to achieve it. Ukraine will act accordingly,” he wrote on social media platform X.
The previous day, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a two-day ceasefire in the war with Ukraine for May 8 and 9, marking the Victory Day anniversary of World War II. In response, Zelenskyy proposed a truce beginning on the night of May 5.
Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 11 ballistic missiles and 164 drones against the country starting from 6:00 p.m. Monday. Ukrainian forces shot down or neutralized one missile and 149 drones, but eight missiles and 14 drones hit 14 targets.
In a related development, Ukraine struck one of Russia's largest oil refineries on Tuesday, causing a fire in the industrial zone of Kirishi, Leningrad region. Governor Alexander Drozdenko said there were no casualties and the blaze was contained. The Kirishinefteorgsintez refinery, among Russia's largest, processed 17.5 million tons of oil (350,000 barrels per day) in 2024, accounting for 6.6% of Russia's total refining output.
Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses destroyed 289 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight.
