Russia Strikes Postal Hub and Ship as Kyiv Launches Massive Drone Offensive

Moscow claims it struck a major Ukrainian postal hub and a cargo vessel, while Kyiv launched a massive drone offensive that ignited fires at industrial sites in the Russian city of Ryazan. The overnight exchange left people injured on both sides of the border.

Russian military officials posted on Telegram that their forces used drones to target a Nova Poshta terminal in Novyi Korotych, just outside Kharkiv. Nova Poshta is Ukraine’s largest private delivery service. They said they also hit a 330-kilovolt substation in the Dnipropetrovsk region. A dry cargo ship carrying military equipment was struck in the Black Sea, roughly 52 kilometers southwest of Odesa. Ukrainian authorities have not yet confirmed the damage to the postal facility or the ship.

The toll on the ground remains high. Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported that Russia attacked the city and 17 other settlements with more than 80 drones over the past day. Six people were injured, including one child. In the eastern Donetsk region, Governor Vadym Filashkin said four civilians died and five others were hurt on Wednesday. Two killed in Serhiivka and two in Yasnohirka. Local media outlet Novosti Donbasu reported that the two victims in Yasnohirka were women who perished when Russian forces dropped two glide bombs on the village.

Moscow insists these logistics nodes serve the Ukrainian military. Nova Poshta facilities have been hit before, including a sorting center in Kyiv in August where three people lost their lives. Russian drones also sparked large fires in the Bucha district near Kyiv overnight, targeting a logistics center and injuring one person.

The situation in Russia reflects the growing intensity of Ukrainian counter-strikes. Ryazan Governor Pavel Malkov stated that over 200 Ukrainian drones attacked the region during the night. Debris caused fires at several industrial locations and damaged power lines, cutting electricity to parts of the city. One person was injured. Malkov later confirmed that power had been restored and the fires were under control. He did not name the specific sites hit.

However, footage verified by the independent Russian outlet Astra showed a fire at the Ryazan oil refinery. Owned by state energy giant Rosneft, it is one of Russia’s largest refineries. Al Jazeera correspondent Yulia Shapovalova, reporting from Moscow, noted that Ukraine has clearly stepped up attacks on Russian oil infrastructure after a brief pause in late October. The Yaroslavl refinery was hit just two days prior. Windows shattered at a school in Ryazan, forcing the cancellation of classes.

Shapovalova added that while these strikes have not halted Russian fuel production, occasional shortages are appearing. People rush to gas stations to fill up their tanks after hearing news of refinery attacks. Meanwhile, Russia has ramped up its own attacks on Ukraine’s power grid. Rolling blackouts have plagued Kyiv since mid-October.

Audrey McAlpine, reporting from Kyiv, described the grim reality for residents. Some people have gone without electricity and, more critically, water for days. They might manage without lights, but water is a different story entirely. City officials have indicated that heating systems will not be switched on until temperatures stay at minus 5 degrees Celsius for five consecutive days. This leaves millions in a precarious position as winter deepens.

When the mercury plummets toward freezing, the power cuts stop being an inconvenience. They become a threat to survival. As she warned, these blackouts transform into "a matter of life and death.