Russian Forces Strike Ukraine’s Gas Infrastructure in Coordinated Overnight Attack

Russian forces launched a significant overnight attack on Ukraine’s gas infrastructure, damaging extraction facilities, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy on February 19.

The facilities are located in the northeastern Kharkiv region and power supply networks in the southern Odesa region. This attack marked the second consecutive night of Russian strikes in Odesa.

Ukrainian officials reported that air defense systems downed 80 drones, with 78 others failing to reach their targets, likely due to electronic countermeasures. The strikes also hit critical infrastructure in Kharkiv, including gas production and storage facilities that are vital for Ukraine’s energy needs.

Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko confirmed the damage, stating that the attacks were intended to disrupt the production of gas necessary for meeting domestic heating and energy demands.

He emphasized that these strikes are part of a broader effort to cripple Ukraine’s energy system, which has been under increasing assault in recent weeks. Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, particularly in Kharkiv and Poltava, has been a major target in Russia’s attempts to undermine the country’s ability to function.

Russia’s focus on Ukraine’s gas infrastructure follows months of missile and drone attacks aimed at electricity systems. As of early February, Ukraine’s gas imports surged dramatically, a response to the ongoing damage to domestic production capabilities. Ukrainian authorities continue to assess the full scale of the damage and restore affected services as quickly as possible.

In Odesa, February 19, a massive drone attack injured one person and caused significant power outages, leaving around 49,000 residents without electricity.