Kyiv reports strikes on Naftogaz sites and retaliatory hit on Russian airbase

Russian strikes have inflicted "tangible damage" on facilities belonging to Ukraine’s state energy company Naftogaz, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on Friday, July 17.

Writing on Telegram, Zelenskyy confirmed the hits but withheld the exact locations. "Unfortunately, there is tangible damage," he stated. The announcement follows a Naftogaz report of a strike on a gas production facility in the Kharkiv region.

However, Zelenskyy also detailed successful retaliatory operations deep inside Russia, identifying a long-range operation by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

"A Tu-95 military aircraft was destroyed in Engels by SBU forces, which was used for Russian missile strikes on Ukraine. The distance from the Ukrainian state border is about 800 kilometres. There were also strikes by the Ukrainian Defence Forces on facilities of the Russian oil industry," Zelenskyy said.

By Tamilla Hasanova