War in Ukraine - Ukraine: heaviest air strikes in a long time
Russia has carried out the heaviest airstrikes on Ukraine for a long time. "We haven't had so many red enemy targets on our monitors for a long time," said air force spokesman Yuri Ihnat on Ukrainian news television.
According to the authorities, at least six people were killed and more than three dozen injured across the country. Spokesman Ihnat emphasized: "Practically everything flew except Kalibr cruise missiles." Kinshal hypersonic missiles, S-300 ballistic missiles, various cruise missiles and long-range Iranian-made drones were used. Around 18 strategic bombers were in the air.
According to Ukrainian media, there was heavy damage across the country. In the western city of Lviv, for example, an infrastructure object was hit in a drone attack. In Odessa in southern Ukraine, debris from a downed drone caused a fire in a high-rise building. In Kharkiv in the north-east, there were several explosions following missile attacks. Air defenses also had to be deployed in the capital Kiev in the morning. It is still unclear whether there were any fatalities as a result of the attacks.
Nationwide air alert
During the night, Russia had already attacked Ukraine from several directions with drones and missiles. Lviv was attacked by more than ten Shahed kamikaze drones, Mayor Andriy Sadovyi announced on Telegram. There are said to have been several strikes. In the Sumy region, the impact of a missile in the town of Konotop injured three people and damaged an apartment building and a workshop. More than ten rockets also fell at night in Kharkiv. There was initially no official information on casualties. The extent of the damage had to be verified, it was said.
The second wave of air strikes followed in the morning. A nationwide air alert was issued due to the attacks. Ukrainians were called upon to take shelter in air raid shelters. The capital Kiev and the industrial city of Dnipro were also targeted by the Russians. Explosions were reported from both cities with over a million inhabitants. It was initially unclear whether these were impacts from Russian missiles or whether they were fired by air defense systems.
Russia launched its war of aggression against Ukraine more than 22 months ago and has repeatedly fired at civilian targets far behind the front line. Last winter, energy supply facilities were the main target of Russian attacks. Experts are warning of a repeat of this tactic this winter. Moscow's aim is to plunge the Ukrainians into cold and darkness in order to increase war-weariness. Attacks on civilian objects are considered war crimes.
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- The use of various cruise missiles and long-range Iranian-made drones in the airstrikes is concerning, as it indicates that Russia is not shy about employing unconventional weapons in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
- The city of Lviv, located in western Ukraine, was also not spared from the heavy drone attacks, further highlighting the widespread destruction caused by this conflict.
- In the aftermath of the attacks in Kharkiv, several explosions were reported, raising concerns about the safety and well-being of the civilians in this northeastern city.
- The use of drones and missiles in these attacks on Kiev and Dnipro, two major cities in Ukraine, suggests that Russia is determined to cause widespread disruption and chaos, no matter the cost.
- The repeated attacks on civilian targets far beyond the front line by Russia are not only unjustifiable but also considered a war crime, as these attacks result in immense suffering and harm to the innocent Ukrainian population.
- The threat of Russian missile and drone attacks on various cities in Ukraine has necessitated the deployment of air defenses across the country, aiming to protect its citizens and critical infrastructure from further destruction.
Source: www.stern.de
