Russia hammered civilian areas of Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in an attack that stretched for hours from daytime into the night, killing at least 16 people and injuring more than 80 others as terrified residents cowered in their homes, officials said on Thursday.
Russia launched nearly 700 drones and dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles, primarily targeting civilians, in its biggest aerial barrage in almost two weeks, the authorities said.
Tetiana Sokol, a 54-year-old resident of Kyiv, said two missiles hit near her home and she took cover with her dog in the hallway as flashes lit up the night and windows shattered from the blast wave. “On the third attack, everything broke, everything flew, we were shocked, we didn't know where to run. I grabbed whatever came to hand and ran away with the dog,” she said.
Moscow's forces have hit civilian areas almost daily since its all-out invasion of its neighbour more than four years ago with the regular assaults occasionally punctuated by massive attacks. More than 15,000 Ukrainian civilians have died in the strikes, the United Nations says.
The bombardment was the biggest in weeks. Last month, Russia had fired 948 drones and 34 missiles in a span of 24 hours in the largest assault of the war on civilian areas.
At least four people were killed overnight in Kyiv, including a 12-year-old, with more than 50 others injured, according to authorities. Officials said the attack damaged 17 apartment buildings, 10 private homes, as well as a hotel, office centre, car dealership, gas station and a shopping mall in the capital.
Nine people were killed and 23 injured in Odesa, three women were killed and around three dozen injured in the central Dnipro region, and one person was killed in Zaporizhzhia in the south. Ukraine's air force said air defences shot down or disabled 667 out of 703 incoming targets, including 636 Shahed-type drones and other uncrewed aerial vehicles. It said 20 strike drones and 12 missiles hit 26 locations.
Meanwhile, in Russia, Krasnodar regional Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev reported that a 14-year-old girl and a woman were killed in Ukrainian strikes in the Black Sea port of Tuapse. He said that attacks damaged six apartment buildings, 24 houses and three schools. Drone fragments also fell near the port of Tuapse. Russia's Defence Ministry said that its air defences downed 207 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Zelenskyy out to bolster air defences
The latest bombardment came in the wake of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's 48-hour trip this week to Germany, Norway and Italy in an urgent search for more air defence systems that can stop Russian missiles.
Ukraine has developed a significant domestic arms industry, especially in the production of drones and missiles, but it can't yet match the sophistication of US Patriot air defence systems. Ukraine's top diplomatic priority is securing allies’ help to buy and build more and better air defences, Zelenskyy said this week.
Cash-strapped Ukraine also needs the speedy disbursement of a promised loan from the European Union of $106 billion that has been blocked by Hungary. Ukraine fears the Iran war is burning through stockpiles of the advanced American-made systems it needs, and has argued against a US temporary waiver on Russian oil sanctions that Kyiv says is helping finance the Kremlin's war effort. “Another night has proven that Russia does not deserve any easing of global policy,” Zelenskyy said on X.
Also read: Zelenskyy pursues more arms deals to keep Russia in check
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