Russia has initiated a devastating series of lethal assaults on Ukraine, causing significant destruction in various major cities and resulting in the deaths of at least 11 individuals. The forces under Vladimir Putin launched 73 missiles and deployed 656 drones targeting key locations like Kyiv, Dnipro, Poltava, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia. These attacks, which left numerous casualties, including children, represent one of the largest offensives by Moscow in recent times.
Numerous air sirens blared across the affected regions as Ukrainian air defense forces reported successfully neutralizing 40 missiles and 602 drones. The onslaught followed Moscow’s warning of imminent “systematic strikes” in retaliation for an alleged attack by Kyiv on a student dorm in Eastern Ukraine, resulting in 21 fatalities the previous week.
Russia asserted that the recent offensive was in response to Ukrainian “terrorist acts” targeting locations within Russia. The Russian defense ministry issued a statement indicating a massive strike utilizing high-precision long-range weapons across air, land, and sea.
Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded as residential buildings and businesses went up in flames, with parents and children navigating debris outside their ruined homes in Ukraine. The state emergency service reported four fatalities and 63 injuries, including three children, in Kyiv. Approximately 140,000 residents in Kyiv were left without electricity post-attacks.
In Kyiv, a nine-story apartment block caught fire after being struck by flaming debris from a nearby building hit by missiles. Mayor Vitali Klitschko detailed the chaos, including burning cars and fires in open areas, including near a kindergarten.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, six people perished, and 36 others sustained injuries as Russian strikes hit Dnipro, with an additional attack occurring after emergency responders arrived, resulting in the death of one rescue worker.
Kharkiv witnessed at least 14 injuries, with residential properties, garages, and vehicles damaged. Individuals were trapped under rubble as missiles and drone strikes devastated larger apartment buildings.
A couple, Olena Dniprovska, 65, and her husband Yevhen, 64, were injured in their Kyiv apartment during the assault. Olena recounted the harrowing experience of the blast destroying their home, leaving them with nowhere to reside.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a cautionary statement on the looming threat of a “massive” Russian strike, emphasizing the readiness of Ukrainian defenders.
By selecting Daily Mirror as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News, you can swiftly access the news that matters to you.
