Russia Strikes Ukraine with One of the Largest Missile Attacks of the War
Russia launched one of the largest missile strikes in the war on Ukraine on Friday, resulting in the deaths of 31 civilians and injuries to more than 120, targeting residential buildings in Kyiv and the south and west of the country, as well as a maternity ward in the east, according to officials.
Details of the Massive Russian Airstrike
Poland, a NATO member, reported that a Russian missile appeared to have entered Polish airspace for about 40 kilometers before returning to Ukraine after three minutes. There was no immediate response from Moscow, and NATO said it remains “vigilant.”
Impact of the Attack on Ukraine
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that the massive airstrike at the end of the year suggests that there should be “no talk of a truce” with the Kremlin at a time when uncertainty about the future of Western support for Kyiv is waning.
The Aftermath for Local Residents
In the capital Kyiv, at least nine people were killed and 30 others injured after a warehouse and residential buildings were targeted, as reported by officials. Maria, a Kyiv resident, said she woke up to a “terrifying” sound and took shelter in her bathroom. She added, “It was frightening; there was a missile flying, and everything was whispering and swirling. I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to run to the shelter. When I got into the bathroom, the mirror fell off the wall.”
Ukrainian Response
The Ukrainian Air Force announced that it shot down 87 cruise missiles and 27 drones out of 158 “air targets” launched by Russia. Chief of the General Staff Valerii Zaluzhnyi stated that the attack targeted critical infrastructure and industrial and military facilities.
Ukrainian Warnings and Damage Estimates
Ukraine has warned for weeks that Russia might be stockpiling missiles to launch a major airstrike on the energy system. Last winter, millions were left in the dark when Russia bombed the power grid. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov posted on Facebook: “It is clear that due to the missiles held by the hostile state, it can and will continue such attacks.”
Casualty Estimates and Damage
The president’s office reported that the death toll reached 26, but statements from various regions indicated at least 31 fatalities. While rescue workers were searching the rubble of the strike that hit a house in Zaporizhzhia, Viktor Tchoukhonov, 73, told Reuters that he was home when he suddenly heard a loud explosion. He said, “A woman died here. I don’t know if her son was home; he might have been at work.” Eight people were killed and 13 others injured in the Zaporizhzhia region, with civil infrastructure facilities also targeted, according to the governor. Six people were killed in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, where missiles struck a shopping center, a house, and a six-story residential building, according to the governor. The attack also caused a fire in a maternity ward, per the governor’s report. Four people were killed in the Black Sea city of Odesa, and at least 22 others were injured, including two children, according to the regional governor who reported strikes on residential buildings. One person was killed in a damaged multi-story residential building in the city of Lviv and 30 others were injured, according to the regional governor. Three schools and a kindergarten were also damaged, according to the mayor. In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, a warehouse, industrial facility, medical facility, and transport warehouse were damaged, with the regional governor reporting three deaths and 13 injuries.
Other Developments in Ukraine
The Russian Defense Ministry reported in a summary of the Russian army’s activities this week that its forces launched one “massive” strike on Ukraine since December 23, but did not provide details. The president’s office stated that the death toll reached 26, while statements from different regions indicated at least 31 fatalities.
Developments
Others in the World
In other news, Russian shelling killed two fishermen in southern Ukraine, with local authorities reporting injuries to others in a village on the banks of the Dnipro River front. In further news, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the United States for the aid package amid uncertainty regarding assistance.
Source: https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2023/12/29/Russia-strikes-hit-Ukraine-s-Kharkiv-Lviv
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