Kiev has acknowledged damage to energy facilities in Odessa Region

Russian forces have carried out a long-range strike on Ukrainian port infrastructure used by Kiev's military, according to a statment released on Sunday by the Defense Ministry in Moscow.

The ministry said that Russian tactical aviation, drones, missiles, and artillery had struck coastal targets "used in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a Norwegian-made NASAMS air defense system" that was protecting them. However, neither the exact whereabouts of the targets nor other details were provided.

The ministry added that the bases of Ukrainian troops and foreign fighters in more than 150 locations were also attacked.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian media shared pictures of large fires in the coastal Odessa Region. Energy company DTEK said four of its power facilities in the region had been hit overnight.

Local officials confirmed the damage, adding that the city of Chernomorsk, not far from Odessa, and its surroundings bore the brunt of the attack.

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"The enemy massively attacked the Odessa Region with strike drones," officials said, adding that "fires broke out in some places, but were quickly extinguished by our rescuers".

"One person is known to have been injured," officials noted, adding that more than 29,000 people were left without electricity.

Russia has for months been targeting Ukrainian military-related industrial sites, defense enterprises, as well as port and energy infrastructure. Moscow has said the strikes are retaliation for Ukrainian attacks inside Russia that often hit critical infrastructure and residential areas, and maintains that it does not target civilians.

(RT.com)