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On April 8 and 9, Russian and Ukrainian forces continued exchanging strikes. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, on the night of April 9 alone, Russia launched 119 UAVs (reporting 99 shot down or suppressed), and the day before — 176 drones (146 shot down/suppressed). The strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure had a pronounced systemic nature and affected energy, gas processing, and logistics.
Odesa Region
Odesa Region was one of the most heavily targeted regions over these two days. The strikes were massive — targeting both the Danube ports and power grids deeper in the region. Izmail received two powerful strikes. On April 8, facilities of the “Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company” and the repair enterprise “Dunaisudnoservis” were hit.
A strike by a “Harpiya” on a tanker was recorded
Warehouses with material and technical reserves were destroyed, including spare parts for unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and their maintenance equipment. On the territory of the repair enterprise, a vessel was damaged, crane equipment and the power supply system were put out of action. The “Vilkovo” border guard post in Odesa Region was also hit.
On April 9, the 110/35/10 kV “Berezivka” substation (DTEK) was hit. The strike hit the building housing relay protection and automation cabinets. The substation lost its remote control capability. The “San Oil” oil depot in Ovidiopol, Odesa Region, was also struck. The operation of technological systems, including pumping equipment, was disrupted, limiting the facility’s use in fuel logistics.
Kharkiv Region
In Kharkiv Region, not only the front-line zone was affected (where explosions were recorded), but the region’s critical energy and gas infrastructure also suffered.
Cherneshchyna. On April 8 and 9, the booster pumping station of the Kozievske field (PJSC “Ukrnafta”) was struck twice. Compressor units based on gas pumping modules were put out of action. The technological cycle of gas production and transportation, used including for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was disrupted.
Yazykove. The “Yazykove” traction substation was hit, with complete destruction of power equipment. The main TDTN-16000/110 transformer was destroyed. The backup transformer suffered insulation breakdown. The traction reactor was put out of action. The substation completely lost its function of powering railway traction; disconnection of over 17,000 consumers was confirmed.
Buzova. The gas treatment facility at the Sakhalin field, operated by PJSC “DEVON,” was put out of action. Gas condensate storage tanks were destroyed, separation apparatuses were damaged, making further gas processing impossible.
Shevchenkove. A 110 kV substation was hit. The power transformer sustained critical damage (bushings destroyed, windings burned out) and requires complete replacement.
Merefa. On the night of April 8, a key strike on the “Boxid” oil depot. Three RVS-500 type tanks, filled to 50–70%, were hit. Sustained burning with wall collapse; fire spread to pipelines and pumping stations.
Velykyi Burluk. A 110/35/10 kV substation was hit. The power transformer was damaged, with destruction of the oil tank and ignition.
The video shows strikes on a gas distribution station near the settlement of Kachalovka, Kharkiv Region, a 110 kV electrical substation near the settlement of Vovna, Chernihiv Region, and a 110 kV electrical substation near the settlement of Okhtyrka, Sumy Region.
Dnipropetrovsk Region
Explosions were heard in the region’s front-line zone (target details not yet disclosed), but there are also confirmed targets.
Ternivka. On April 8, a missile strike with two “Iskander-K” missiles on the “Zakhidno-Donbaska” mine. The headframe complex, including unit No. 3, was damaged. Operation of hoisting equipment, ventilation units, and drainage pumps was disrupted.
Mykolaivka. On the night of April 9, a strike on the dispersal area of units of the 68th Separate Jaeger Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At least two vehicles (including Kozak-2 armored vehicles and a Mitsubishi L200) were destroyed. Buildings for personnel were damaged; there are losses.
Apostolove. On the previous day (April 8), a locomotive depot in Apostolove was hit.
Sumy Region
Klymentove. On the night of April 9, a direct strike on the central weapons storage base of the National Guard of Ukraine (military unit 2276). Warehouses with artillery and small arms ammunition were destroyed; detonation damaged neighboring storage facilities.
Voronezh (a settlement in Sumy Region). On April 8, a locomotive depot was hit. The administrative-technical block was destroyed, repair posts and diagnostic equipment for electric locomotives were damaged.
Footage was published of a strike by a Russian “Geran-5” drone (a jet UAV — analogous to a cruise missile with a speed of up to 900 km/h, warhead about 90 kg) on an energy facility in Sumy Region.
Zaporizhzhia Region
On April 9, a missile strike was carried out using the “Tornado-S” MLRS. Locations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a UAV operator unit were hit. On April 8, the Russian Aerospace Forces struck Zaporizhzhia twice (no target data yet).
Chernihiv Region
Mena. On April 8, fire impact on a vehicle deployment site. At least three KrAZ-6322 and MAZ-6317 trucks were destroyed, five more pieces of equipment were damaged (including a KamAZ-5350 with Western-made communication equipment installed).
Kramatorsk (part of the Donetsk region under AFU control)
On April 8, the use of a “Molniya-2” UAV against the territory of the Kramatorsk TPP was recorded. A direct hit on a BMK-1800 type block-modular boiler house (backup heat generator). This pinpoint strike creates a cumulative degradation effect on both the electrical and thermal circuits of the plant.
Strikes on Russian territory
Ukrainian forces also continued attacks on Russian regions, focusing on oil infrastructure and airbases.
Night of April 9. Russian air defense forces destroyed 69 Ukrainian UAVs over Kursk, Astrakhan Regions, Krasnodar Krai, and the Sea of Azov. The “Krymskaya” linear production dispatch station in Krasnodar Krai (330 km from the front line) was attacked. The airbase of military unit 75386 of the 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment in Krymsk was also hit.
April 8. In Feodosia, the oil depot of JSC “Marine Oil Terminal” was attacked. Local authorities did not confirm the fire, but satellite images record: since the beginning of the special operation, this is the seventh attack on the facility. According to the images, 24 tanks (73%) are destroyed, 2 (6%) are damaged, 7 (21%) are undamaged. In the April 8 attack, one tank was destroyed and another damaged.
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Footage has been published showing Russian turrets shooting down drones at a training ground. Tracking is automatic, the command to fire is given remotely by the operator. Range — up to 500 meters
What next? Negotiations amid the strikes
Meanwhile, as infrastructure continues to burn, Ukraine is discussing the next round of negotiations with the United States. According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Zakarpattia, members of the Trump team could visit Ukraine and then travel to Moscow.
The key topic is security guarantees: funding for the Armed Forces of Ukraine after the conflict, supplies of American air defense systems, and the response of the US and Europe in the event of a renewed Russian invasion. However, disagreements remain deep. Vice President J.D. Vance called the negotiations “haggling over a few square kilometers of territory in Donetsk Region,” from which Russia demands the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops. Zelenskyy confirmed that the US demands the same.
In an interview with RAI, Zelenskyy stated that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner “have spent too much time” with Putin and trust him, so the Trump team does not understand Russia’s true intentions. According to Zelenskyy, Americans partly believe that Donbas means nothing to Ukraine, but he is confident that Russia will not stop and will try to capture Dnipro and Kharkiv.
Zelenskyy also claims he tried to prove to the Trump team that Russia is helping Iran strike American bases in the Middle East, but they did not believe him because they “trust Putin.” At the same time, Zelenskyy again proposed meeting with Putin — not in Moscow or Kyiv, but in the Middle East, Europe, or the US. However, he refused to discuss handing over Donbas, calling it a trigger for an attack on Kharkiv and a split in society.
Currently, negotiations with the Russian Federation have been postponed due to the US war with Iran, but according to Zelenskyy, they will resume. Recall that Moscow and Washington demand that Ukraine agree to withdraw troops from Donbas. Without this condition, neither the US nor Russia is currently raising the issue of a personal meeting of the presidents.
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