On May 9, Russian military forces launched an attack on a gas service vehicle in the Donetsk region, according to a statement by Serhiy Koretsky, the head of Naftogaz Ukraine.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:45 AM when Russian troops utilized an FPV drone to strike a special vehicle belonging to the gas service group of Naftogaz, specifically Donetskoblgas. The vehicle was en route to respond to a service call aimed at restoring gas supply to areas affected by previous shelling, particularly in the frontline town of Druzhkivka.
Koretsky confirmed that the gas workers managed to evacuate safely and were unharmed, although the vehicle was completely destroyed in the attack.
This incident follows a series of assaults by Russian forces in the region. On the night of May 6, missile strikes and drone attacks targeted Poltava, resulting in four fatalities and injuries to 31 individuals. Vitaliy Dyakivnych, the head of the Poltava regional military administration, reported that an industrial facility was damaged, leaving 3,480 customers without gas service.
In recent weeks, Russian military actions have also impacted five Naftogaz facilities in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions, causing equipment damage and fires. Koretsky noted that since the beginning of the year, Russian forces have attacked Naftogaz facilities 96 times, affecting all operational aspects of the company, including gas and oil extraction, transportation, and energy supply.
Recent attacks by Russian forces have targeted gas service vehicles and facilities in Ukraine, highlighting ongoing military aggression. Despite the risks, gas workers have managed to evacuate safely during these incidents.