Several cities in Ukraine report serious attacks with drones and cruise missiles. At least twelve people are said to have been killed and major damage caused.
Russia again massively attacked Ukraine with drones and missiles during the night and on Friday morning. According to the latest official information from Kiev, at least 18 people were killed. The number of injured was put at more than 100 at midday, Ukrainian media reported, citing the Interior Ministry.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Kremlin troops fired around 110 rockets into his country, more than ever officially reported in one day since the start of the war. The Ukrainian Air Force even reported 158 projectiles. The majority had been intercepted, Zelensky wrote in the online service The president supported his statements with a video that, among other things, showed a completely destroyed shopping center.
“Today Russia fired with almost everything it has in its arsenal – Kinschal, S-300, cruise missiles, drones. Strategic bombers fired Ch-101/Ch-505 (Russian cruise missiles),” Zelensky wrote. He spoke of a terrorist act, but at the same time assured that Ukraine would respond to it. Russia will lose its war of aggression; and Ukraine will do everything to guarantee its own security.
Mayors report massive attacks
The mayors of the affected cities confirm the shelling: In Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, Mayor Ihor Terekhov spoke of a “massive attack” in which “at least six explosions” were heard. The Kharkiv regional military administration said Russia had carried out about 10 attacks on the city. The mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi, said there were two attacks. Lviv is located in western Ukraine around 70 kilometers from the border with Poland and is comparatively rarely the target of attacks.
In Odessa in southern Ukraine, a high-rise building caught fire in “another enemy attack,” according to Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov. It was hit by debris from a downed drone.
During the night, Russia had attacked Ukraine from several directions with drones and missiles. Lviv was attacked by more than ten Shahed kamikaze drones, Mayor Andriy Sadowyj said on Telegram. There are said to have been several impacts. In the Sumy region, three people were injured and an apartment building and a workshop were damaged when a rocket hit the town of Konotop. More than ten rockets also fell in Kharkiv during the night.
Ukraine triggers nationwide air alert
The second wave of air strikes followed in the morning. Air alerts were raised across the country because of the attacks. The Ukrainians were asked to go to air raid shelters. The capital Kiev and the industrial city of Dnipro were also targeted by the Russians. Explosions were reported in both megacities. It was initially unclear whether these were impacts from Russian missiles or whether they were shot down by anti-aircraft defenses.
Russia launched its war of aggression against Ukraine more than 22 months ago and continues to bombard civilian targets far behind the front. Last winter, energy supply facilities in particular were the target of Russian attacks. Experts warn against a repeat of this tactic this winter. Moscow’s goal is to plunge Ukrainians into cold and darkness in order to increase war fatigue. Attacks on civilian objects are considered war crimes.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
