WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Russia stages major airstrike on Ukraine; one missile enters Polish airspace

Russia struck critical infrastructure in Ukraine's western region of Lviv with missiles early on Sunday, Kyiv said, in a major airstrike that saw one Russian cruise missile briefly fly into Polish airspace according to Warsaw.

Moscow launched 57 missiles and drones in the attack that also targeted the capital Kyiv, two days after the largest aerial bombardment of Ukraine's energy system in more than two years of full-scale war, Kyiv said.

"There were two preliminary hits on the same critical infrastructure facility that the occupiers targeted at night," Lviv's regional governor Maksym Kozytskyi wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

The strike used Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, which are harder to shoot down, he added, without identifying the facility.

The energy ministry said equipment caught fire when a critical energy facility in the Lviv region was attacked, causing it to lose power. It was unclear if they were talking about the same facility.

Air defences destroyed 18 of 29 inbound missiles and 25 of 28 attack drones, the air force said.

There were almost no details about what had been damaged, but the targeting of critical infrastructure could indicate Russia is trying to keep up pressure on the energy system after its strikes caused widespread blackouts on Friday.

The energy ministry said Ukraine, which has been exporting power in recent weeks, had sharply increased imports of electricity and stopped exports on Sunday after attacks on the energy infrastructure.

Several explosions rang out in Kyiv in the early hours as air defences destroyed about a dozen missiles over the capital and its vicinity, said Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's military administration.

There was only minor damage from the attack, he said.

Small groups of people huddled for safety underground in a central Kyiv metro station in the early hours, some of them sleeping on camping mats.

Moscow has been pounding Ukraine for days in attacks portrayed by Moscow as revenge for Ukrainian attacks that were conducted during Russia's presidential election.

The wreckage of a downed Kh-55 cruise missile was found in a Kyiv park, officials said.

"For the third pre-dawn morning this week, all of Ukraine is under an air alert and has been advised to seek shelter," U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink posted on X.

Russia's defence ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

POLISH AIRSPACE

Poland's armed forces said a Russian cruise missile launched at the region of Lviv had violated Poland's airspace.

"The object entered Polish space near the town of Oserdow (Lublin Voivodeship) and stayed there for 39 seconds," it said on the social media platform X. "During the entire flight, it was observed by military radar systems."

Poland's army spokesperson, Jacek Goryszewski, told reporters that the missile travelled about 2 km (1.2 miles) into Polish airspace before returning to Ukraine.

There was no immediate comment from Russia. Warsaw said it would demand an explanation from Moscow.

Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said Warsaw would continue to support Ukraine both militarily and on the humanitarian side.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Ukrainian forces lost up to 360 troops in Avdeyevka area over past day

Ukrainian armed forces lost up to 360 military personnel, two tanks, and five armored combat vehicles in the Avdeyevka direction per day, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported.

"The enemy lost up to 360 military personnel, two tanks, five armored combat vehicles and nine cars. During the counter-battery battle, the following were hit: a US-made M777 howitzer, an Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer, two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems and a D-30 howitzer," the ministry said.

Donetsk area

The Ukrainian military lost up to 300 troops, a US-manufactured M113 armored personnel carrier and an M119 howitzer in the Donetsk area over the past day, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported.

"In the Donetsk direction, after active fighting the Battlegroup South units took more advantageous positions, defeated the enemy in the areas of the settlements of Kleshcheyevka, Krasnoye and Kurdyumovka of the Donetsk People's Republic, and also repelled a counterattack by formations of the 80th Air Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces in the area of the settlement "Krasnogorovka, Donetsk People's Republic. The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 300 military personnel, a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, 3 vehicles, a US-made M119 howitzer, a D-30 towed gun and a field ammunition depot," the statement said.

Kharkov region

The Russian military destroyed up to 40 servicemen of the Ukrainian armed forces, as well as Vampire and Mars multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) in Kharkov region, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

"In the Belgorod direction, Russian units continue to carry out measures to identify and destroy sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Ukrainian armed forces in the border regions of Ukraine. As a result of fire damage to manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian armed forces in the areas of the settlements of Potikhonovo and Zemlyanka of the Kharkov region, up to 40 military personnel as well as Czech-made RM-70 Vampire multiple rocket launcher and Germany-made Mars Mars multiple launch rocket system were destroyed," the ministry said.

South Donetsk direction

The Battlegroup East forces have improved the tactical position in the South Donetsk direction, the Ukrainian army lost up to 140 military personnel over the last 24 hours, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported.

"In the South Donetsk direction, forces of the Battlegroup East improved the tactical situation and inflicted fire defeat on the formations of the 31st brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine in the area of the village of Urozhaynoye, Donetsk People’s Republic. According to the ministry, enemy losses amounted to up to 140 military personnel, two armored combat vehicles, five cars, a Polish-made Krab self-propelled howitzer and a Rapra anti-tank gun," the report says.

Kupyansk direction

The losses of the Ukrainian armed forces in the Kupyansk direction reached 140 servicemen and the M777 artillery system over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

"In the Kupyansk direction, units of the Battlegroup West defeated the manpower and equipment of the 14th, 32nd mechanized and 57th motorized infantry brigades of the Ukrainian armed forces in the areas of the settlements of Sinkovka, the Kharkov region and Terny, Donetsk People's Republic, and also repelled three enemy counterattacks. The losses of Ukrainian armed forces consisted of up to 140 military personnel, a tank, two pickup trucks, a US-made M777 artillery system, an Msta-B howitzer and two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems," the ministry said.

Reuters/Tass