In a new escalation of hostilities, Russian forces have reportedly attacked Ukrainian air bases in a series of overnight airstrikes. Amid preparations for a substantial counter-offensive, Ukraine stated it was working on restoring a runway and repairing five incapacitated aircraft in the western Khmelnitskiy region, known for housing a significant military airfield pre-war.
The governor's office of the Khmelnitskiy region acknowledged ongoing efforts to contain fires at fuel and lubricants storage facilities and munitions sites. While Russia's state-owned RIA news agency reported multiple air bases being struck, Ukraine has not confirmed damage to other bases.
Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, weathered its 16th attack this month, enduring two consecutive nights of bombardment. Yet, officials assured that most incoming drones and missiles had been intercepted with no targets hit in the daytime. These relentless assaults, which have driven residents to seek refuge in metro stations, signify Russia's intensified air campaign this month.
Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyiv's military administration, said, "With these constant attacks, the enemy seeks to keep the civilian population in deep psychological tension."
An attack on Odesa port ignited a fire and inflicted infrastructural damage, according to Ukraine's military. The extent to which this could impact grain exports, a significant national industry, remains unclear. Odesa is a key port for exporting agricultural products and is part of a U.N.-mediated agreement for safe grain exportation via the Black Sea.
Simultaneously, Russia threatened to cease its commitment to the Black Sea grain deal if an agreement with the U.N. to address impediments to Russian grain and fertilizer exports is not honored.
In a shift of strategy, Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine over 15 months ago, has been focusing its attacks on military installations and supply lines, aiming to hamper Ukraine's counter-offensive preparations.
Meanwhile, Moscow accused Ukraine of escalating drone and sabotage attacks on Russian soil. Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of Russia's bordering Belgorod region, reported simultaneous shelling of several border settlements by Ukrainian forces on Monday, causing injuries and damage to industrial facilities.
Ukraine claimed to have intercepted 29 out of 35 drones and 37 out of 40 cruise missiles fired by Russia overnight. The Kyiv military administration reported that more than 40 incoming "targets" had been shot down.
"Another difficult night for the capital," stated Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko, referring to the previous night's attack, which was the largest drone barrage on Kyiv to date, resulting in casualties and multiple injuries.
