In a major escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russia conducted a series of overnight air strikes on Tuesday, targeting military installations and infrastructure facilities in Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine. The attack comes as Ukraine launched a counteroffensive against Russian forces, claiming to have recaptured a significant amount of territory. As of now, there have been no reported casualties resulting from the latest airstrikes.
According to Ukrainian authorities, 32 out of 35 Iranian-made Shahed drones, launched from Russia’s Bryansk region and the Azov Sea, were successfully shot down. The Ukrainian Air Force announced on the Telegram messaging app that their air defenses were activated in various regions across the country. However, the primary focus of the attack by Iranian drones appeared to be the Kyiv region, where more than two dozen Shahed drones were reportedly destroyed.
Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv military administration, confirmed that an air alert was in effect in the capital for over three hours. No specific details regarding the extent of damage have been provided thus far. In Lviv, an unspecified critical infrastructure facility was hit, located approximately 70 kilometers from the border with NATO member Poland. Additionally, some tram routes were altered during the morning rush hour.
Regional governor Maksym Kozytskiy stated, “They hit a critically important facility. There were three hits.” Furthermore, the Russian strikes extended to the southeastern industrial city of Zaporizhzhia, where Iskander and S-300 missiles were deployed. Yuriy Malashko, head of the military administration of the Zaporizhzhia region, revealed that telecommunication infrastructure, as well as agriculture and farming properties, were targeted by Russia.
Ukraine’s military, based on preliminary information, indicated that seven missiles were fired at Zaporizhzhia. Reuters has been unable to independently verify these reports, and there has been no immediate comment from Russia regarding the airstrikes.
The intensification of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine raises concerns about the stability and security of the region. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, urging both sides to exercise restraint and seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The impact of these airstrikes and the subsequent counteroffensive by Ukraine will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the ongoing crisis.
Sources By Agencies
