Russia launched a major missile attack on Ukraine, resulting in the death of 12 civilians and numerous injuries, as residential buildings in Kyiv and other parts of the country were hit. In Kyiv, ten people were trapped under rubble, and a maternity ward in the city of Dnipro was damaged.
The extent of the aerial assault raised concerns about the future support for Ukraine from Western allies, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy describing it as Russia’s largest aerial barrage since the February 2022 invasion.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed the hope that the sounds of explosions in Ukraine would be heard worldwide, urging Kyiv’s allies to increase their support. “Today, millions of Ukrainians awoke to the loud sound of explosions. I wish those sounds of explosions in Ukraine could be heard all around the world,” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said, calling for Kyiv’s allies to step up their support.
The attack involved approximately 110 missiles, with most being intercepted, according to President Zelenskiy. Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk labeled it the most massive air attack, and Army chief General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi noted that critical infrastructure, industrial, and military facilities were targeted.
The assault resulted in power outages in several regions, and Ukraine had previously warned of a potential major air attack on its energy system. Last year, Russian strikes on the power grid caused widespread blackouts. The attacks claimed five lives in Dnipropetrovsk, three in Odesa, and one in Lviv, among other casualties in different cities. The total impact included damaged residential buildings, shopping centers, medical facilities, and infrastructure facilities.
A missile strike in the northeastern city of Kharkiv caused damage to a warehouse, an industrial facility, a medical facility, and a transport depot, as reported by the regional governor. The incident resulted in one fatality and 11 others sustaining injuries.
In the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, multiple infrastructure facilities were hit by missiles, leading to one fatality, according to the interior minister.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has witnessed a significant escalation with this extensive missile attack, prompting concerns about the scale and duration of future support from Western nations. The uncertainty looms over the geopolitical dynamics as Ukraine continues to face Russian aggression.