Defense Ministry: Russian Armed Forces strike on Ukraine's gas infrastructure was a response to AFU attacks

The Russian Armed Forces (AF) have hit the ground infrastructure of the largest underground gas storage facility in Stryi, Lviv Region, in response to Ukrainian strikes with ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles in the Bryansk Region. This was reported by the Russian Defense Ministry on January 16.

It is specified that the strike was also a response to the attempt to disrupt gas supply via the Turkish Stream in Krasnodar region. A gas storage facility in Stryi was one of the targets of a group attack by precision-guided weapons on critical facilities of Ukraine's gas and energy infrastructure.

"The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to constantly monitor the situation and any provocations of the Kiev regime will not go unanswered", - emphasized in the department.

Earlier, on the night of January 13-14, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) tried to strike six ATACMS missiles, six Storm Shadow missiles, as well as 31 drones at facilities in the Bryansk region. All attacks were repelled by air defense forces. Then the Defense Ministry emphasized that the actions of the Kiev regime will not go unanswered.

Before that, on January 13, the AFU tried to attack with nine drones a compressor station in the Krasnodar region, through which gas is supplied by the Turkish Stream pipeline. The Defense Ministry noted that the air defense forces repelled the attack, shooting down all the drones. The station's personnel were not injured, and destruction was also avoided.

Russian forces in October 2022 began strikes on military facilities and related energy and communications facilities in Ukraine. As Russian President Vladimir Putin explained, this was a response to the Kiev regime's terrorist actions.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which was announced on February 24, 2022, is ongoing. The decision was taken against the background of the aggravated situation in the region.