Russian strikes cut power and water in Odesa as infrastructure attacks continue

Russia attacked the Ukrainian port city of Odesa in the south of the country overnight on Friday, damaging civilian infrastructure and leaving parts of the city without electricity and water.

Head of Odesa Military Administration Serhiy Lysak also said that the residential building was damaged as a result of yet “another hostile attack”.

Russia has intensified its attacks against Ukraine’s critical infrastructure with the arrival of colder weather, in a repeat of what Moscow has done as part of its war strategy in previous years.

Many Ukrainian cities are experiencing extended power outages, with some areas only having electricity for three to four hours a day.

One of Russia’s largest oil refineries hit

According to the Russian officials and Kremlin-affiliated media outlets, Russia’s Slavneft-YANOS oil refinery in Yaroslavl, one of the country’s five largest, has been hit in Kyiv’s drone attack on Friday.

Russian Telegram channels report that the local residents claimed they heard at least seven explosions over the city, followed by reports of a fire at the Slavneft-YANOS refinery.

The site is located more than 700 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.

The refinery in Yaroslavl is a major producer of fuels including petrol, diesel and jet fuel. Its alleged processing capacity stands at about 15 million tonnes of crude per year.

In Moscow, local authorities reported about Russian air defence allegedly intercepting eight drones overnight.

Russia says seven people were injured when drone debris hit a Tver apartment block during a large overnight wave of attacks reported across several regions.