Russian forces have launched a "massive combined attack" tonight with missiles and drones on the energy infrastructure in the Poltava region in central Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian state electricity company, the attack also damaged electrical infrastructures in other regions.
The most difficult situation remains in the regions of Sumy and Chernihiv, where the damages to energy infrastructures are more substantial. In addition to bombing energy facilities in Poltava, Russia has also targeted regions such as Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk with long-distance drones in the past hours.
In the southern Black Sea port of Ukraine, the city council reported explosions last night, and regarding Dnipro, authorities reported an attack on the city with Russian-Iranian Shahed kamikaze drones.
Russian Attack on Ukrainian Gas Facilities Causes Critical Damage
A Russian airstrike overnight on Ukraine's major gas production sites in the Poltava and Kharkiv regions damaged a "significant number" of facilities, reported Naftogaz's CEO on Friday, according to Reuters.
Some of the damages are critical, noted Sergii Koretskyi in a Facebook post, adding that the attack on these facilities was the largest in over three and a half years of war.
UN: Ukraine War, with 50,000 Victims, Enters an "Even More Dangerous Stage"
The Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has caused over 50,000 casualties including dead and wounded (including 3,000 children), "has entered an even more dangerous and deadly stage for Ukrainian civilians," with continued bombings of schools, hospitals, and shelters, warned the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, on Friday.
In the first eight months of 2025, the number of casualties has increased by 40% compared to 2024, and according to Türk's office figures, three and a half years of conflict have resulted in the deaths of around 15,000 Ukrainian civilians while another 35,000 were injured.
"This war must end, the human cost for civilians and for soldiers and their families is enormous and heartbreaking," Türk stated in a debate on Ukraine at the UN Human Rights Council, emphasizing that all negotiations and peace initiatives "must prioritize the protection of civilians."
Denmark Believes There Is a High Risk of Sabotage Against Its Armed Forces
Danish authorities stated on Friday that there is a high risk of their armed forces being targeted for sabotage following the hybrid attack last week against several airports and military facilities, reported Efe.
"Our conclusion is that the threat is high," said Thomas Ahrenkiel, from the defense intelligence services, at a press conference.
The Kastrup airport (Copenhagen) remained closed for several hours on the night of the 22nd due to drone sightings, an incident that was repeated in the following days at other airports in the country, including a military base.
Danish authorities speak of a "professional actor" and a "hybrid attack," pointing towards Russia, although they have admitted they have not been able to prove a direct connection.
"We are still investigating the facts, we cannot say anything yet," stated Ahrenkiel, who nevertheless accused Russia of waging a "hybrid" war against Denmark and the rest of the West with the aim of creating division among allies and causing them to stop supporting Ukraine.
Ukraine Attacks Chemical Plant Over a Thousand Kilometers East of Moscow with Drones
Ukraine attacked the Azot chemical plant in Perm with drones early this morning, over a thousand kilometers east of Moscow, reported Efe.
"Azot experienced a brief production stop; the plant is now operating normally. There are no environmental threats, and residents' safety is not at risk," stated the regional governor, Dmitri Majonin, on his Telegram channel on Friday. Additionally, a residential building was damaged, "fortunately, there were no casualties," he added.
Russian-Linked Tanker Detained by France Resumes Journey
A tanker from Russia's so-called "ghost fleet" resumed its journey after being detained by France for several days, according to data from Marine Traffic and Vesselfinder on Friday.
The Boracay, flying the flag of Benin, resumed its route towards the Suez Canal on Thursday night and was off the southwest coast of France on Friday, according to these sources.
The European Union has blacklisted this tanker accused of being part of the "ghost fleet" that Russia uses to evade Western sanctions on its oil sales.
French authorities detained the vessel, also known as Pushpa or Kiwala, as well as its captain and second in command, both of Chinese nationality, three days later.
Orbán Says EU's Plan for Ukraine is Based on the Illusion that Russia Will Lose
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated on Friday that the EU's strategies regarding the war caused by the Russian attack on Ukraine are based on the illusion that Russia will weaken, reported Efe.
"The EU's war strategy is based on a mistake, that Russia will run out of money before us and therefore won't be able to arm itself, while we will continue to support Ukraine, so Moscow will retreat," he explained in statements to public radio Kossuth.
"This is an illusion and will have serious consequences," stated the Prime Minister, adding that the EU has already spent "over 180 billion euros" on the war and reiterated that negotiation is the solution, a stance that - he said - more and more EU leaders support.
Russia Shoots Down 20 Ukrainian Drones Over Three of Its Regions, the Black Sea, and Crimea
Russian anti-aircraft defenses shot down 20 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones last night over three border regions with Ukraine, the Black Sea, and the annexed Crimea peninsula, reported the Russian Ministry of Defense on its Telegram channel on Friday, according to Efe.
According to the military report, the downing of Ukrainian attack drones occurred between 11:00 pm on Thursday and 7:00 am today (GMT+3).
The Russian military command specified that 11 aircraft were intercepted and destroyed over the waters of the Black Sea near the Crimea peninsula, where the anti-aircraft defenses also shot down another enemy drone.
Russia Launches "Massive Combined Attack" on Poltava's Energy Infrastructure
Russian forces launched a "massive combined attack" last night with missiles and drones on the energy infrastructure in the Poltava region in central Ukraine, as reported on his Facebook account without giving details on the consequences by the head of the regional Military Administration, Volodymyr Kogut, according to Efe.
Ukraine fears being once again a victim before winter of another campaign of systematic Russian bombings against its electricity generation and transmission capabilities, as in other phases of the war that forced Kiev to implement scheduled power cuts nationwide.
In addition to bombing energy facilities in Poltava, Russia has also attacked cities like Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk with long-distance drones in the past hours.
Ukraine's Prime Minister Says Electricity Being Restored in Northern Districts After Russian Attacks
Emergency teams were gradually restoring electricity supply in northern areas of Ukraine that were disconnected from the grid due to Russian attacks, reported Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko on Thursday night, according to Reuters.
Svyrydenko, writing on the Telegram messaging app, stated that electricity had been fully restored in two areas of the border region of Sumy, affected by Russian attacks overnight.
Repairs were also underway in the neighboring Chernihiv region, where over 300,000 consumers were left without electricity after Russian attacks on Wednesday.
In the northern city of Slavutych, near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (already closed), Svyrydenko stated that critical infrastructures were once again connected to the power grid, and teams were expecting to restore power to the rest of the city shortly.
Putin Warns that US Delivery of Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine Will Damage Relations
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the United States that supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine will seriously damage relations between Moscow and Washington, but will not change the situation on the battlefield, where the Russian army is advancing slowly but steadily, reported Afp.
The possible supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States to Kiev will indicate a "new qualitative stage of escalation, even in the relations between Russia and the United States," Putin stated at an international foreign policy expert forum held in the Russian city of Sochi, on the coast of the Black Sea.
The Russian president pointed out that, although Tomahawk missiles will cause harm to Russia if supplied to Ukraine, Russian air defenses will quickly adapt to the new threat. "It certainly will not change the balance of power on the battlefield," he added, emphasizing that the Russian army is making continuous advances against Ukraine.