Moscow: Ukraine Attacked Russian Energy Facilities with Dozens of Drones

On Saturday, April 20, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that Ukrainian drones attacked the country's energy infrastructure on the night of April 20. According to the ministry, 50 drones were shot down by air defense over eight regions of Russia. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the Belgorod region, stated on social media that a woman and a man died during the nighttime attack after explosions set their home on fire, adding that a pregnant woman was also killed. The Russian Ministry of Defense also announced that a Ukrainian 'Su-25' fighter jet was shot down, but did not provide details, and the Associated Press was unable to independently verify these claims. Ukrainian officials typically refrain from commenting on attacks within Russian territory. However, the Associated Press reported that many drone attacks appear to have targeted Russian energy infrastructure. The head of the Kaluga region announced that the drone attack caused a fire at a power station, and the governors of Bryansk and Smolensk also reported fires in fuel and energy buildings. In recent months, Russian refineries and oil terminals have become primary targets for Ukrainian drone attacks. According to the Associated Press, Ukrainian drone manufacturers have been increasing their range for months as Kyiv seeks to compensate for its losses on the battlefield and, while awaiting more military aid from the U.S., drones are a cost-effective option. Meanwhile, Moscow announced on Friday that an American citizen who fought alongside Kremlin-backed separatists in Ukraine between 2014 and 2017 was killed in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region. Additionally, on Saturday, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with seven missiles and several drones, with air defense managing to destroy two missiles and three drones. The governor of the Odessa region in Ukraine stated that ballistic missiles damaged infrastructure but did not provide further details. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned that previous attacks had damaged the port infrastructure of the city, including two food export terminals. The governor of Kharkiv region in Ukraine reported that Russian shelling killed two men in the city of Vuchansk and added that a 60-year-old woman was injured after a shell hit a nine-story apartment building. Meanwhile, Ukrainian police announced they were searching for two Ukrainian soldiers believed to be involved in the killing of a police officer at a checkpoint in the Vinnytsia region. Germany and Poland reported the arrest of several Russian espionage and sabotage agents. NATO and the European Union called on the G7 to strengthen Ukraine's air defense and expand sanctions against the Islamic Republic. The U.S. warned about 'China's support for Russia's aggression against Ukraine,' with a State Department official stating that 'further actions' would be taken if necessary. Experts noted that Moscow and Tehran are using Ukraine and Israel as 'battlefield laboratories.' At least 16 people were killed in a Russian missile attack on the city of Chernihiv in Ukraine. China's covert support for the war in Ukraine was highlighted, with Washington revealing military and space cooperation between Beijing and Moscow.