KYIV: Ukraine shot down over 20 drones and 10 missiles launched by Russia on the capital Kyiv, eastern regions, and Dnipro in overnight attacks, Ukrainian officials claimed on Friday.
At least one person was killed and 15 others were injured in a missile strike on a hospital in Dnipro.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, confirmed the attack and said authorities were working to rescue others from the hospital.
Office of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a statement that a fire had erupted on the outskirts of Kharkiv after an oil depot was attacked twice, and the equipment used for pumping oil products had been damaged, Reuters said.
Russia, this month, has intensified drone and missile attacks on Ukraine, mainly attacking infrastructure and logistic facilities before an anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive.
During the overnight attacks, the Ukrainian air force claimed to have shot down 23 Iranian-made Shahed drones, ten missiles fired from the Caspian Sea, and two reconnaissance drones.
It added that 31 drones and 17 missiles had been fired in the attacks, which started on Thursday at around 10:00 p.m. (1900 GMT) and continued until Friday at 5:00 a.m.
Officials said numerous drones and missiles hit targets in the Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions. There were no immediate deaths reported.
The Dnipropetrovsk regional governor Serhiy Lysak said on the Telegram messaging app, “It was a tough night. It was massive; the enemy launched a huge attack on the region with drones and missiles. “Dnipro has suffered.”
Lysak said several cars, houses, and private companies, including gas stations and transport companies, had been damaged during the recent attack. A worker at the gas station was injured.
Officials from Kyiv reported that a private house, the roof of a shopping mall, and many vehicles had been damaged.
The governor of the Kharkiv region also claimed damage caused to many industrial facilities and private houses.
Since last October, Russia has conducted hundreds of missile attacks to destroy vital infrastructure and electrical facilities. Russia started its full-scale invasion 15 months ago.
According to military officials, it has changed the target of its missile attacks to thwart Ukrainian retaliation planning.
