Ukraine says Russian missile attack targets facilities linked to EU gas supply

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) — A Russian missile strike on Ukraine's energy sector targeted gas transit facilities used in supplying the EU, the country's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

"We endured another massive missile attack today — 34 Russian missiles of various types. The main target is the energy sector, various facilities of the industry: both the electricity grid and the gas transit facilities, the very gas facilities that ... ensure the security of deliveries to the European Union," Zelenskyy said in an evening video address late on Saturday.

While Zelenskyy said Ukrainian air defenses had managed to shoot down some of the incoming missiles, he stressed that the country needed Patriot air defense missile systems as soon as possible.

"Ukraine needs seven systems — this is the bare minimum. Our partners have these Patriots," Zelenskyy went on to say, adding that Russia is aware that Ukraine's partners "do not have the same determination to protect Europe from terror that they have demonstrated in the Middle East."

"However, it is still possible to provide the necessary quantity and quality of air defense systems. No time should be wasted — the necessary signal of determination must be sent," he added.

On Saturday, Mykola Oleshchuk, commander of Ukraine's Air Force, claimed on Telegram that air defenses had downed 21 out of 34 incoming missiles of various types during a Russian attack.

Meanwhile, Lviv Governor Maksym Kozytskyi said a Russian missile strike had hit two pieces of critical energy infrastructure in the districts of Stryi and Chervonohrad.

Elsewhere, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed it launched 35 group strikes on Ukraine's energy industry, military-industrial assets, and railway infrastructure between April 20-27 "in response to attempts by the Kyiv regime to damage Russian energy and industrial facilities."