Ukraine's Naftogaz hit by 13 Russian strikes in a week, says company
Naftogaz says Russia struck its facilities 13 times in a week, causing serious damage, with nearly 300 attacks this year.
Ukraine's state energy company Naftogaz reported on Monday that Russian forces attacked its facilities 13 times over the past week, causing serious damage to equipment and production capacity. The company said its premises have been targeted almost 300 times since the start of the year.
According to Naftogaz, Russian drones and missiles struck facilities in several regions, with one asset hit multiple times during the week. No employees were injured in the attacks.
The strikes are part of a broader Russian campaign against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which has been ongoing since the full-scale invasion began more than four years ago. Moscow's strategy aims to weaken Ukrainian morale by cutting off civilians from light, heating, and running water during the winter months.
Ukrainian officials accuse Russia of "weaponizing winter" and fear the attacks will continue through the coming season. The latest strikes come as both sides expand their aerial campaigns, with Ukraine launching over 800 long-range drones at Russia on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian long-range attacks on Russia killed seven people, while four civilians died in Ukraine after strikes by Moscow's forces, officials said Monday. The United Nations reports that Russian forces have killed nearly 17,000 civilians since the invasion, with July's death toll 70% higher than the same month last year.
Ukraine has been working to counter Russian missile barrages, but faces a severe shortage of U.S.-made Patriot air defense interceptors. Kyiv is now developing its own ballistic missile and cooperating with European partners on anti-ballistic air defenses.