On the 1220th day of the war, Russia launched new airstrikes on Ukraine.
The Nikopol district in the Dnipropetrovsk region was targeted by nighttime drone attacks that caused significant damage, but no injuries were reported. Two missiles and five drones were shot down in this region.
Three waves of explosions were recorded last night in the Khmelnytskyi region, targeting especially the military base in the town of Starokostiantyniv, crucial for Ukraine’s aerial operations.
At the same time, the Russians launched at least six drone attacks on the city of Zaporizhzhia, causing fires and damage to infrastructure, but no casualties were reported.
Starting from Thursday evening, Russia launched over 360 drones, two ballistic missiles, and six cruise missiles on Ukraine, with most of them being shot down or neutralized by air defense.
Ukraine also conducted a nighttime drone attack. Traffic on the bridge over the Don River in the Kalachyovsky district of the Volgograd region was temporarily restricted to remove debris from a Ukrainian drone attack. Additionally, the Volgograd airport was temporarily closed. 13 drones were destroyed in this region.
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that air defense units destroyed nearly 40 Ukrainian drones on the night from Thursday to Friday.
And the leaders of the 27 European Union member states, gathered at a summit in Brussels, agreed to extend sanctions against Russia by six months. Additionally, Romania proposed the inclusion of a strategy for the Black Sea in the European Union’s agenda, as announced by Nicușor Dan.
– [Link to the full article](https://spotmedia.ro/stiri/eveniment/ziua-1219-ucraina-testeaza-bombe-noi-5-milioane-de-drone-pentru-ue-meloni-il-avertizeaza-pe-trump)
### Situation on the Front
– **Injuries in Nikopol** – Four people were injured in the Russian attacks during the night on the Nikopol district in the Dnipropetrovsk region. FPV drone attacks targeted the center of Nikopol city, as well as the towns of Pokrovske and Marhanets, announced Serhii Lisak, the head of the regional military administration. An outpatient clinic, an office building, three high-rise buildings, a shop, a market, a car, and a power line were damaged. The official also mentioned that two missiles and five drones were shot down in the Dnipropetrovsk region last night.
– **Explosions in Khmelnytskyi** – Three waves of explosions were recorded last night in the Khmelnytskyi region. The Ukrainian Air Forces had previously announced the presence of Russian drones and a high-speed target in the region, especially in the area of Starokostiantyniv town, where the airbase of the same name is located, essential for Ukraine’s aerial operations, as reported by [Kiev Post](https://www.kyivpost.com/post/55266). An air raid warning was issued starting at 07:30 local time.
– **Drone Strikes in Zaporizhzhia** – Russian forces launched at least six drone attacks on the city of Zaporizhzhia, causing fires and damaging an industrial facility, as well as the company’s garages, announced Ivan Fedorov, the head of the regional military administration. He specified that no casualties were reported.
– **Drones and Missiles Destroyed** – Since Thursday evening, Russia launched 363 drones on Ukraine, as well as two Kinzhal ballistic missiles and six Kalibr cruise missiles. 365 aerial targets were shot down by 9:30 local time, announced the [Ukrainian Air Forces](https://t.me/kpszsu/37115). Specifically, all six cruise missiles and 211 drones were shot down, while 148 drones disappeared from radar or were neutralized by electronic jamming.
### What’s Happening in Russia
– **Bridge Closed Due to Drones** – Traffic on the bridge over the Don River in the Kalachyovsky district of the Volgograd region was temporarily restricted to remove debris from a „massive” Ukrainian drone attack, regional governor’s representatives stated on Friday. „Sappers are in action,” also conveyed regional governor Andrei Bocharov. The Russians did not confirm if the bridge was damaged, but we know there were no casualties. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Telegram that air defense units destroyed 39 Ukrainian drones on the night from Thursday to Friday – 13 above the Volgograd region. During the attack, the Volgograd airport was closed.
– **Chinese Journalist Injured in Kursk Region** – A journalist from the Chinese TV station Phoenix TV was injured in a Ukrainian drone attack while reporting in the Russian region of Kursk, informed the television channel and Russian authorities on Friday. „A Ukrainian drone hit the village of Korenevo in the Korenevsky district. A 63-year-old correspondent, Lu Yuguang, who went alone to the border area, was injured,” announced the interim governor of the Kursk region, Alexander Kinshtein, on Telegram. The Russian Foreign Ministry accused Kiev of a „deliberate attack.”
– **US Ambassador in Russia Ends Mission** – The United States Ambassador to Moscow, Lynne Tracy, appointed during the Biden administration, has completed her mission, Washington announced on Friday. Arriving in Moscow in January 2023, Lynne Tracy was the first woman to hold this position in the history of the United States.
### Other Relevant Information
– **EU Extends Sanctions** – The situation in Ukraine was also discussed at the European Council. The President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, announced that sanctions against Russia will be extended, and support for Ukraine was reaffirmed by almost all member states. „Unanimously this time, the continuation of sanctions was adopted, which, as you know, are renewed every six months as a form of pressure on Russia, and the continuation of support from the European Union and member states for Ukraine was agreed,” said the head of state. Romania proposed, during the European Council held on Thursday, the inclusion of a strategy for the Black Sea on the European Union’s agenda. Details [HERE](https://spotmedia.ro/stiri/eveniment/ce-s-a-decis-si-ce-a-obtinut-nicusor-dan-la-consiliul-european-video).
– **Trump Talks with Macron about Ukraine** – Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump spoke on the phone on Thursday „to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East.” The US President made the call „on the sidelines of the European Council meeting” in Brussels, informed the French presidency. „They decided to remain in close coordination on these issues,” the same source added.