Ukraine initiated drone strikes on Russia’s Kushchevsk military airfield situated in the southern Krasnodar area, along with two oil processing plants, as disclosed by a source acquainted with the operation to CNN.
The operation, termed "explosive" by the source, resulted in conflagrations erupting at the three designated sites.
According to the source, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) persists in effectively targeting Russian military and infrastructure installations, aiming to diminish Moscow's capacity for engaging in warfare.
Veniamin Kondratyev, the governor of the Krasnodar region, had previously stated that a Russian petroleum refinery bore the brunt of the assault after Kyiv deployed drones during the early hours of Saturday morning.
State media outlet TASS of Russia reported that operations at the Slavyansk-on-Kuban oil refinery had been partially halted, citing Eduard Trudnev, the security chief of the Slavyansk ECO Group overseeing the facility.
Trudnev mentioned that operations at the plant had been "partially suspended" following the intrusion of 10 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) into the refinery, sparking a blaze.
Trudnev expressed concerns about the potential for concealed damages.
Russia's Ministry of Defense declared on Saturday that Kyiv had dispatched 66 drones to target the Krasnodar region, all of which were intercepted.
Kondratyev confirmed that there were no casualties resulting from the fire at the Slavyansk refinery.
Missile strikes
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, four thermal power stations sustained "significant damage" following overnight assaults attributed to Russia, as stated by DTEK, the nation's foremost private energy enterprise.
DTEK's declaration further noted that "currently, power specialists are endeavoring to rectify the aftermath of the assault."
Herman Halushchenko, Ukraine's Energy Minister, shared on Facebook that "facilities in Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv regions came under attack."
Halushchenko remarked that a power technician at one of the sites suffered a concussion.
Updating via Telegram, Serhii Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional military administration, reported a "sizable assault" on the region.
Despite intercepting 13 missiles in Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, and Pavlohrad districts, energy installations in Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih districts were impaired, instigating fires and injuring a 39-year-old individual. Lysak also noted "disruptions in water supply in the Kryvyi Rih district."
Svitlana Onyshchuk, head of the Ivano-Frankivsk regional military administration, conveyed via Telegram that a "critical infrastructure facility" in the Carpathian region had been targeted, leading to a fire that was subsequently extinguished.
DTEK highlighted that its thermal power plants have been subjected to over 170 attacks since the onset of the conflict.
Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, disclosed on Saturday that Russia had launched an overnight assault on Ukraine involving "34 missiles launched from air, land, and sea," with 21 intercepted.
Addressing the missile barrage, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked, "we managed to intercept a portion of them," while stressing that "the world possesses all the resources to aid us in intercepting every missile and drone."
Continuing his discourse on X, he added: "What Ukraine requires are air defense systems, a sufficient quantity and caliber of weaponry to ensure our frontline efforts, along with swift delivery and resolute action."
Ukraine has consistently emphasized its urgent need for essential munitions, including air defense systems and artillery ammunition. US President Joe Biden ratified into law on Wednesday an aid package furnishing critical military support to Ukraine, culminating months of deliberations and discussions. Endorsed by the Senate late Tuesday, the package encompasses nearly $61 billion in aid to Ukraine.
Hospitals evacuated
On Friday, individuals receiving treatment at two medical centers in Kyiv were evacuated following assertions by Belarus that soldiers were seeking refuge within them, sparking apprehensions in Ukraine about a potential assault on these facilities.
A video emerged online featuring the head of the Belarusian KGB security agency alleging that the two healthcare establishments were harboring military personnel.
Ivan Tertel, head of the Belarusian KGB, asserted during a speech on Thursday that Ukrainian combatants were "using children as human shields" and disclosed the locations of the two hospitals situated in the northeast of Kyiv, one of which is a pediatric hospital.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reacted, stating, "The adversary has essentially declared their intent to strike," and pointed out that they had "even provided the addresses," characterizing it as "a ploy employed as a pretext for targeting our critical social infrastructure."
Concerns over a potential assault prompted authorities to urgently initiate the relocation of patients to alternate medical facilities in the Ukrainian capital.
The Kyiv city administration released a statement condemning the allegations as "outright falsehood and an enemy ploy" designed to rationalize attacks on the city's social infrastructure.
Online videos depicted medical personnel hastening to transfer patients and equipment to awaiting ambulances.
By Friday evening, all patients had been successfully relocated to other medical institutions, Klitschko confirmed, expressing gratitude to the medical staff, technicians, and ambulance crews for their "swift and well-coordinated efforts."
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) also rebuffed the assertion that soldiers were stationed at the hospitals, labeling it "a tactic of misinformation and psychological operations that serve the interests of Russia."
Ukrainian authorities have yet to indicate whether the urgent transfer has led to complications for any of the patients.
