Russia launches drone and missile attacks on Kiev
Russia launched “large” drone and missile strikes in the Ukrainian capital and other regions early on Friday, days after a surprise attack on Ukrainian air bases.
Ukrainian officials said five people were killed, 80 people were injured, and cruise missiles and hundreds of drones were launched.
The strike targeted the capital city of Kiyikh, the Rootsk and Ternopil in the northwest.
Russia said the strike was in response to “terrorist acts by the Kiev regime” and that military locations were targeted.
Moscow also reported defeating 174 Ukrainian drones in parts of Russia and parts of occupied Crimea. Neptune’s anti-fleet cruise missile said it was intercepted in the Black Sea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said its troops “started a massive strike on Thursday night with high-precision long-range air, sea, ground weapons and attack drones.”
The attack came after President Putin warned President Donald Trump that he would respond to Ukraine’s recent strikes in several Russian regions.
Late Friday, Trump told reporters that the Ukrainians “give Putin a reason to bomb hell from them last night.”
Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, described the war in Ukraine as “existent” for Russia, calling it “a matter of our national interests, our security.”
Moscow has denounced Ukraine three bomb attacks on railways in the West Briance and Kursk regions of Russia, which reportedly killed seven people last weekend and injured more than 100 people. Kiev has not commented on these attacks.
However, Ukraine said it had carried out its largest long-range drone strike with at least 40 Russian fighter jets at four military bases in Russia last Sunday.
Ukrainian President Voldy Meezelensky said 117 drones were used on Spider’s Web Operation Web by SBU Security Services, and “34% of SBU security services were used.” [Russia’s] Strategic Cruise Missile Carrier.”
Ukrainian officials say Russia’s latest air attacks include 38 cruise missiles, the Ukrainian variety that were targeted on Sunday.
Ukraine Regional Emergency Services DSNS said that all three people killed in Kiev were employees.
One person was killed in Lutsk and another victim’s body was pulled out from Chernichv’s remains late Friday.
Zelensky said the Russian attacks used more than 400 drones.
“This is the moment when everyone in America, Europe and the world can together stop this war by putting pressure on Russia,” he added.
He said in a thinly veiled reference to Trump’s apparent unwillingness to put pressure on Russia, “If anyone is giving the war time to take life without putting pressure on it, it’s accomplice and accountability.”
Reuters
The attack used drones and missiles like those targeted by Ukraine in Sunday’s operation.
Air Raid Alerts were introduced in Kiev, where residential buildings were attacked and the city’s subway system was destroyed after bombardment of damaged trucks.
Tens of thousands of civilians in the capital spent several restless hours in underground shelters.
A prolonged burst of machine gun fires could be heard from the city centre as suburban air defenses attempted to remove drone scores targeting the capital.
Sometimes you can hear the unique topics of drones.
A flash of bright light reflected in nearby buildings continues after 5 or 10 seconds by a violent explosion.
In Ternopil, military chief Viakeslav Negoda said Friday’s strike was “the largest air attack on our area to date,” causing injury to five people and harming homes and schools.
EPA
Ukraine said that all three confirmed victims of Kyiv are employees of the state’s emergency services DSNS
Earlier this month, direct peace talks for the second round between Russia and Ukraine took place in Istanbul, but ended without a major breakthrough.
Ukrainian negotiators said Russia had refused to make an unconditional ceasefire. This is an important demand for Kiev and its Western allies, including the United States.
The Russian team said they proposed a two- or three-day ceasefire “in certain regions” on the vast frontline, but did not give further details.
Last week, Trump appears to have set a two-week deadline for Putin, threatening to change how the US is responding to Russia if he believed Putin was still “tap” him in his peace efforts in Ukraine.
The US President has not so far been based on his threat.
