Russian drone strike in Kharkiv kills 13,000 pigs as part of mass attack on Ukraine gas facilities
Russian forces launched a massive drone-and-missile barrage — involving hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles — that struck Kyiv and energy infrastructure across Ukraine, with air defenses shooting down the majority; the raids killed at least four people in Kyiv, wounded dozens nationwide, and caused blackouts and damage to thermal and hydroelectric facilities. In the Kharkiv region a drone strike on a farm in the Novovodolazka (Nova Vodolaha) community ignited sheds and killed about 13,000 pigs, an attack Naftogaz and Ukrainian officials denounced as deliberate terror aimed at disrupting the heating season and demanded more Western air defenses and sanctions.
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📌 Key Facts
- Russia launched a massive drone-and-missile barrage on Ukraine involving hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles; the most recent consolidated tally reported about 465 drones and 32 missiles launched, while earlier counts by Ukrainian officials ranged higher (up to ~595 drones and ~48 missiles).
- Ukraine’s air defenses intercepted or jammed the large majority of the incoming weapons; recent reporting cites roughly 405 drones and 15 missiles neutralized (other sources reported drone interceptions as high as ~566 and missile interceptions up to ~45).
- The strikes hit Kyiv and many other regions (including Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Odesa, Kharkiv and Poltava), damaging residential buildings, a medical facility, a kindergarten and more than 100 civilian objects; Kyiv authorities reported damage at 20+ locations in the capital.
- Casualties and injuries were reported across the country: at least four people were killed in Kyiv (reports identified a child among those killed) and additional fatalities were reported elsewhere (including a 7‑year‑old in Zaporizhzhia); nationwide injury totals were updated from initial figures of roughly 40 to as many as about 70 as reports evolved.
- The barrage specifically targeted energy infrastructure: Naftogaz said Russian strikes hit gas extraction and processing facilities in Kharkiv and Poltava, causing damage to thermal plants, blackouts in parts of nine regions, Kyiv outages on both sides of the Dnipro, and precautionary shutdowns such as a Zaporizhzhia hydroelectric plant taken offline.
- A Russian drone strike on a farm in the Novovodolazka (Nova Vodolaha) community in Kharkiv region sparked a fire that killed about 13,000 pigs; the animals were housed in eight sheds covering roughly 140,000 square feet, and the sheds and some roofs burned or were destroyed.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian officials condemned the attacks as deliberate terror aimed at disrupting the heating season and urged the U.S., EU, G7 and G20 to provide more air defenses and impose stricter sanctions.
- On-the-ground and witness reporting described rescues from high‑rise fires and human-impact scenes at Kyiv’s central train station, underscoring significant civilian disruption and emergency response activity.
📚 Contextual Background
- Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 (commonly dated 2022-02-24).
- Since February 2022, attacks on Ukraine have repeatedly targeted the country's energy infrastructure during winter months, employing missiles and attack drones and causing widespread power outages.
📰 Sources (5)
Massive Russian attack on Ukraine energy sector prompts sharp Zelenskyy rebuke
New information:
- Confirmed scale of the barrage: 465 drones and 32 missiles launched; 405 drones and 15 missiles intercepted/jammed.
- Nationwide energy impact: blackouts in parts of nine regions; Kyiv outages on both sides of the Dnipro; thermal plants damaged and under repair.
- Policy dimension: Zelenskyy urges the U.S., Europe and G7 for more air defenses and stricter sanctions; calls for G20 response.
- Additional safety measures: hydroelectric plant in Zaporizhzhia taken offline as a precaution.
- Casualties in Kyiv include at least 20 injured and rescues from a high‑rise fire; a 7‑year‑old killed in Zaporizhzhia.
Russian drone attack kills 13,000 pigs in Ukraine, officials say
New information:
- A Russian drone strike on a farm in the Novovodolazka (Nova Vodolaha) community, Kharkiv region, sparked a fire that killed about 13,000 pigs.
- The animals were held in eight stalls covering roughly 140,000 square feet; the sheds burned and some roofs were destroyed.
- Naftogaz said Russia fired 381 drones and 25 missiles at gas extraction and processing facilities in the Kharkiv and Poltava regions in the attack sequence.
- Quote from Naftogaz CEO Serhii Koretskyi characterizing the operation as 'deliberate terror' aimed at disrupting the heating season.
Russian drone, missile attack on Kyiv kills at least 4
New information:
- CBS provides on‑the‑ground human details and witness reporting from Kyiv central train station and a Solomianskyi‑district residential strike.
- CBS cites Kyiv City Administration head Tymur Tkachenko confirming casualties on Telegram and quotes Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko describing damage across 20+ locations in the capital.
- Article recounts evolving national wounded totals (initial Kyiv report of 10 wounded; later Interior Ministry statement raising wounded to 70 and noting damage to over 100 civilian objects).
Russia launches massive drone and missile barrage on Ukraine hitting Kyiv, other targets throughout country
New information:
- Ukraine’s air force said Russia fired 595 exploding drones and decoys and 48 missiles in the attack.
- Air defenses reportedly shot down or jammed 566 of the drones and 45 of the missiles.
- Casualties reported: at least four killed (including a 12-year-old girl) and about 70 injured nationwide; Kyiv had 10 wounded and other regions affected.
- President Zelenskyy named additional affected regions (Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv and Odesa) and condemned the timing at the close of UNGA week.
Large Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv kills 4 and wounds at least 10
New information:
- At least 4 people were killed in Kyiv and about 10 wounded in the capital; Ukraine reported roughly 40 wounded across the country.
- President Zelenskyy said the raid involved "nearly 500 strike drones and more than 40 missiles."
- Strikes damaged residential buildings, a medical facility and a kindergarten across Kyiv; other regions hit include Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv and Odesa.