President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to Russia’s massive overnight strike on May 5 by saying that Ukraine would act in a “mirror-like manner.”
In a Telegram post, he said the main targets of the attacks were Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities.
Zelensky called the attacks “absolute cynicism,” saying Moscow is simultaneously calling for silence to conduct propaganda activities – referring to Moscow’s unilateral May 9 ceasefire for its Victory Day parade – while continuing to carry out missile and drone strikes.
He added that a ceasefire depends solely on Russia.
“Every day, Russia can cease fire, and this will stop the war and our responses. Peace is needed, and real steps are needed for this. Ukraine will act in a mirror-like manner,” he wrote.
Zelensky said Russian forces attacked energy infrastructure in the Poltava region.
“It was very mean to strike again with a missile when State Emergency Service (DSNS) employees were already at the scene extinguishing the fire. As of now, dozens of injured people are known. Unfortunately, four people were killed, including two rescuers. My sincere condolences to their families and friends,” he wrote.
According to local authorities, Russian troops attacked a gas production facility in the Poltava region overnight, causing a large-scale fire.
When units of the DSNS arrived at the scene and began extinguishing the fire, Russia struck again – this time with a missile targeting the responders.
Two rescuers were killed in the attack.
Viktor Kuzmenko, deputy head of the Operational Coordination Center of the Poltava Region DSNS and a Hero of Ukraine, was among the victims. After the 2024 Poltava attack, he led efforts that saved 17 people and participated in more than 50 operations to mitigate the consequences of Russian strikes.
Dmytro Skryl, a firefighter-rescuer with more than 20 years of service, was also killed. He had repeatedly taken part in extinguishing complex fires at oil and gas facilities following Russian attacks.
In addition to the two rescuers, three Naftogaz employees were killed in the second strike.
“This night, Russia took the lives of three of our colleagues and two rescuers of the State Emergency Service. Another 37 people were injured,” Naftogaz said in a report.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs also reacted to the strike, calling Russia’s attacks “deliberate.”
“These are deliberate strikes against those who save lives. We record every war crime of Russia. The enemy must bear responsibility for the murders of Ukrainians,” the statement says.
Zelensky added that Russian forces also struck eastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, where four people were injured, and one person was killed.
Critical infrastructure was attacked in central Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, where three people were injured. In the city of Pavlohrad, power lines were damaged, leaving thousands of families without electricity.
Strikes were also reported in the Zaporizhzhia and Kyiv regions, where three people were injured.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, from 6 p.m. on May 4, Russia launched 11 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, along with 164 Shahed strike unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including jet-powered variants, as well as Gerbera, Italmas, and Parody-type decoy drones.
The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups.
“As of 9 a.m., air defenses shot down or suppressed one ballistic missile and 149 enemy UAVs in the north, south, east, and center of the country,” the report said.
At the same time, eight ballistic missiles and 14 strike drones were recorded hitting 14 locations, with debris from downed targets falling in 10 additional locations. Two ballistic missiles did not reach their targets, and information is still being clarified.