Reports from Ukraine indicate that five missiles and 60 attack drones were intercepted by the country’s air defense systems during a recent night of intense Russian aerial assaults, resulting in four fatalities.
The onslaught occurred shortly after the Kremlin initiated one of its most extensive air attacks on Ukraine, causing significant damage to energy infrastructure and claiming multiple lives.
According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia conducted a barrage of 91 projectiles, which included 10 missiles and 81 drones of Iranian origin, from various locations within Russia.
Reflecting on the tragic outcome, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that despite the interception efforts of their air defense systems, four individuals lost their lives and 16 others sustained injuries. Zelensky conveyed this information via a social media post.
He further mentioned that ongoing rescue operations were in progress at the impacted sites, asserting that a response to the attacks would be forthcoming.
Emphasizing the need for accountability, he added, “Crimes against humanity cannot be committed without consequence.”
Meanwhile, journalists from AFP stationed in Kyiv reported the sound of air raid sirens and explosions reverberating across the city throughout the night, possibly stemming from defensive measures being taken.
Since its invasion in February 2022, Russia has carried out numerous large-scale drone and missile offensives against Ukraine, notably targeting critical energy facilities.
Earlier on the same day, local authorities confirmed two fatalities in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region and two in the central city of Kryvyi Rig following a missile strike at a hotel.
This incident at the hotel closely follows a recent missile attack on a hotel in Kramatorsk, where a team associated with the Reuters news agency experienced a tragic loss when a safety advisor lost his life.
AFP