Ukraine is preparing for significant Russian drone and missile assaults targeting civilians following the Kremlin’s promise to initiate “massive group strikes.” The city of Kharkiv in Ukraine was struck by guided aerial bombs, resulting in the injury of nine individuals and the death of two in Sumy due to Russian missile attacks.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has issued threats of intensified and larger air strikes on Ukraine in retaliation for a substantial attack by Russia. The Kremlin is incensed by Ukraine’s major offensive on Moscow, which caused extensive damage, including a thick layer of dark smoke and ‘black rain’ covering the area. Over 1,000 drones, including 200 targeting the capital city, bombarded Russia on Thursday, hitting a significant oil refinery just nine miles from the Kremlin.
This assault marked Ukraine’s most substantial attack on Moscow during the ongoing conflict of over four years. Lavrov stated, “It was no coincidence that the president announced some time ago, after another stunt by the Kyiv terrorist, that we would now conduct massive combined strikes on a regular basis against targets whose condition directly affects the combat capability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
The recent escalation occurred as the UK plans to supply Ukraine with 150,000 drones and air defense systems using funds derived from frozen Russian assets. A new £752 million fund was disclosed during a meeting of NATO defense ministers and the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Brussels.
Included in the latest assistance package are Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) and ground-based radar systems aimed at enhancing Ukraine’s air defenses against ongoing Russian missile and drone offensives. Ukraine’s long-range strike missions into Russia have primarily targeted the country’s fuel industry, leading to severe energy shortages and creating challenges for President Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked on the Thursday attack, stating, “This is a fully justified response to Russian attacks on our cities and communities, and another critical outcome of our warriors’ efforts against facilities that sustain Russia’s war machinery. It is time for the war to end, and Russia must engage in diplomatic measures.”
According to the US-based Institute for the Study of War, the Ukrainian strikes are significantly affecting Russia, with fuel sales restrictions and shortages impacting frontline troops in Ukraine. The ISW noted that Ukraine’s attacks reveal vulnerabilities in Russian air defenses and highlight the challenges the Kremlin faces in managing the domestic repercussions of the war it initiated.
