Russian attack at Ukraine's gas production facilities kills five, officials say
Overview of Russian Missile and Drone Attacks on Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure
By Anna Pruchnicka
KYIV, May 5 (Reuters) - A Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure killed five people overnight, officials said on Tuesday, as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy denounced Moscow’s ceasefire offer as cynical amid continuing strikes.
Details of the Attack and Casualties
Serhiy Koretskyi, CEO of Ukraine's state energy company Naftogaz, said Russian forces struck gas production facilities in the Poltava and Kharkiv regions. Three Naftogaz employees and two emergency service rescuers were killed, while 37 people were wounded, he said.
Presidential Response and Ceasefire Proposals
Zelenskiy condemned the attacks after Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday proposed a brief ceasefire.
"It is utter cynicism to ask for a ceasefire in order to hold propaganda celebrations while carrying out such missile and drone strikes every single day leading up to it," Zelenskiy said.
Ceasefire Timelines and Public Reaction
Putin declared a two-day ceasefire on May 8 to 9, to coincide with events marking the anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.
Zelenskiy countered by proposing his own pause in fighting, starting on the night of May 5-6, without specifying a timeframe, and said Ukraine would "act symmetrically from the specified moment." He has repeatedly said Ukraine needs a long‑term ceasefire.
Kyiv residents were sceptical on Tuesday that Putin's offer would lead to a halt in attacks.
"There will be a provocation from Russia. They will try to make it look as if the Ukrainians did something," Vira Kolesnyk, 65, told Reuters.
"(Putin) never keeps his word and will not keep it now," she added.
Additional Strikes and Infrastructure Damage
Zelenskiy said Russian forces also struck critical infrastructure in the Dnipropetrovsk region, injuring three people and leaving thousands of families without electricity.
Follow-Up Strike on Rescue Workers
Koretskyi said the Naftogaz facilities sustained significant damage and production losses in the attack, which involved drones and ballistic missiles.
Russia's defence ministry said its forces struck Ukrainian defence industry and energy facilities in retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure, Russian news agencies reported.
Casualties Among Emergency Responders
Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said the two rescue workers were killed when Russian forces carried out a follow‑up strike after emergency crews arrived to extinguish a fire caused by an initial attack on the gas facility in the central Poltava region.
Russia regularly carries out so-called "double-tap" strikes on rescue workers responding to initial attacks, Ukrainian officials say.
Klymenko added that 23 rescue workers were hurt. "These are deliberate attacks on those who save lives," he said on Telegram.
Scale of the Attack and Aftermath
Ukraine's air force said Russia had launched 11 ballistic missiles and 164 drones at Ukraine since 6 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Monday. One missile and 149 drones were shot down or neutralised, it said, but eight missiles and 14 drones struck 14 locations.
The governor of the Poltava region said the attack cut gas supply to nearly 3,500 customers.
(Reporting by Anna Pruchnicka in Gdansk, Yurii Kovalenko in Kyiv; Editing by Kate Mayberry and Ros Russell)
