Russian missile attack hits Ukraine’s only oil and gas university

A Russian missile attack on June 22, 2024 severely damaged the National Technical University of Oil and Gas in Ivano-Frankivsk, a key facility for the Ukrainian energy sector.

The attack on the university underscores that Russia continues to target educational and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, despite international condemnation of such actions as potential war crimes.

Ivano-Frankivsk Mayor Ruslan Martsynkiv reported that 14 university buildings were damaged, as well as over 1,000 square meters of roof space, a kindergarten and a lyceum. “Unfortunately, our oil and gas university was damaged,” Martsynkiv said, adding that the losses would be compensated.

The university, Ukraine’s only higher education institution specializing in oil and gas sciences, suffered significant damage. According to preliminary estimates, 14 buildings, 815 windows, 25 entrance doors and about 1,160 square meters of roof area were damaged in the attack.

Oleksiy Chernyshov, head of the Naftogaz Group, announced that the company would finance the reconstruction work. “The educational institution that was the target of the shelling tonight is a purely civilian facility. It trains specialists for our oil and gas industry, so we cannot stand by and do nothing,” Chernyshov said.

University Rector Ihor Chudyk thanked the Naftogaz Group for its support: “I am grateful to the Naftogaz Group for their prompt help and compassion for our misfortune. Several buildings of our university have been partially destroyed. The extent of the destruction is currently being assessed by experts. We have a common enemy, but we will definitely get through it together.”

The attack on the university was part of a larger Russian attack on energy infrastructure in southern and western Ukraine that night. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia used a total of 16 missiles and 13 drones in the attack. Ukrainian forces successfully intercepted 7 of 10 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles, 1 of 2 Iskander-K cruise missiles, as well as all 4 Kalibr missiles and 13 drones.

In addition to the university, other targets included energy facilities in Zaporizhia Oblast, where two energy engineers were injured, and in Lviv Oblast, where a key energy infrastructure facility was hit. The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces reported that Poland had activated its fighter jets in response to the massive Russian attack on Ukraine.

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Russia attacks energy infrastructure in southern and western Ukraine overnight, injuring two workers