Day 325: Blasts Rock Energy Infrastructure in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv

Facts

• Ukrainian officials reported that blasts were recorded at energy infrastructure facilities in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Mykolaiv on Saturday morning. In Kyiv, Reuters reported that air-raid sirens came following the blasts, which it said was highly unusual.
• Lt. Gen. Oleksandr Pavliuk, Ukraine's deputy of its ground forces, said the attack on Kyiv didn't come from the air. "The explosions are unrelated to threat from the air, the work of air defense systems, or any other military activity," he said. "An alarm would have been sounded if there was a threat. The cause of the explosions will be reported separately."
• Later, Yurii Ihnat, a spokesman for Ukraine's Air Force, said while fragments were being collected to determine the munitions used, they were "most likely" missiles that flew a ballistic trajectory. In addition to the infrastructure facility, Ukrainian officials said 18 private residences were damaged and there were no civilian casualties.
• Meanwhile, in Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials reported that S-300 missiles were used and that there were no reports of civilian casualties at this stage. Mykolaiv was reportedly struck with Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS), and there were also no reports of civilian casualties.
• In the last 24 hours, Russian attacks were also recorded in the regions of Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia, while fighting was continuing in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian officials reported that one civilian was killed and three more injured in Donetsk, while two people were killed and three more injured in Kharkiv. Three people were reported injured in Kherson.
• Elsewhere, according to a report in Britain's Sun newspaper on Saturday, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has approved a plan to send 12 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine. Later, it was reported that Sunak called Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "The prime minister outlined the UK’s ambition to intensify our support to Ukraine, including through the provision of Challenger 2 tanks and additional artillery systems," a Downing Street statement on the call said.

Sources: U.S. News, Pravda, Ukrinform, and Sun.

Narratives

• Anti-Russia narrative, as provided by CNBC. Russia's deliberate targeting of energy infrastructure — unnecessarily increasing the suffering of civilians — amounts to war crimes. This continuing Russian barbarity must be confronted.
• Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by Tass. Attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure are a direct consequence of the failure of the country's leadership to meaningfully engage in peace talks and their belief they can defeat Russia on the battlefield. These attacks will stop once a more sober position is reached.

Predictions