Ukraine once more experiences a substantial nighttime assault wave orchestrated by Russia
The Russian government conducted a substantial air assault on Ukraine the previous night, drawing considerable criticism from Ukraine's international allies, including Europe and the USA. The assault primarily targeted vital energy facilities, resulting in several casualties.
As per the Ukrainian air force, Russia released 91 projectiles, including ten missiles and 81 drones of Iranian origin, on Tuesday. The Ukrainian air defense managed to intercept 50% of the missiles and 60 of the 81 drones. "In spite of the robust performance of our air defense systems, four people lost their lives and 16 were injured," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported via digital platforms. Rescue procedures were underway at the blast sites.
Zelenskyy confirmed a response to the attacks. "Crimes against humanity cannot be unexamined."
Tuesdays early hours reported two fatalities in the Zaporizhzhia's southern region and two more in a rocket attack on a hotel in Kryvyi Rih, the central Ukrainian city.
A security consultant employed by the Reuters news agency was killed four days earlier in a rocket attack on a Kramatorsk hotel.
Ukrenergo, the Ukrainian power grid administrator, announced Tuesday power outages planned across the day to alleviate strain on the power grid after the recent attacks. "Ukrainian power network is still recovering from nine significant Russian assaults," Ukrenergo mentioned. The network is short on power, with both planned and emergency repair work being conducted on energy facilities. The operator encouraged power conservation.
Bombardments took place at a time when Ukrainian forces were advancing an attack on the Russian border district of Kursk. Over the past three weeks, Kyiv has reportedly seized vast territories.
Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported Tuesday that soldiers now control 1,294 square kilometers and 100 settlements in the Kursk region. Additionally, Ukraine captured 594 Russian soldiers over the three-week offensive.
At the same time, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi visited Kursk. A Russian nuclear agency spokesperson told AFP that Grossi led a crew to evaluate the conditions at the nuclear power plant near Kursk city following Ukraine's advance into the area.
Meanwhile, the governor of Russia's Belgorod region, bordering both Kursk and Ukraine, acknowledged reports of a potential Ukrainian intrusion in his region. "Enemy forces are attempting to cross the border in the Belgorod region," Vyacheslav Gladkov reported on the Telegram messaging service. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated the border situation was challenging but "under control."
Later, Gladkov reported that Ukraine had shelled and used drones to assault at least three villages in the region.
Zelenskyy revealed the Ukrainian invasion of Kursk, which started on August 6, was, among other reasons, an attempt to compensate for limited range.
Since the onset of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Russia's air force has been executing lethal assaults on Ukraine almost daily. With increasing frequency, Russia has been targeting energy facilities. Zelenskyy has repeatedly urged allies to deliver new air defense systems promptly.
Despite the ongoing conflict in Kursk, Moscow persists in pushing its offensive in eastern Ukraine. On Tuesday, the Russian Ministry of Defense acknowledged capturing the Ukrainian town of Orliwka, near the strategically important city of Pokrovsk. On Monday evening, Zelensky declared the defense of Pokrovsk was proving "difficult."
The rocket attack on Kryvyi Rih resulted in two fatalities, as mentioned in the text. Additionally, a security consultant was killed four days earlier in a rocket attack on a Kramatorsk hotel, using a similar type of weapon.
