Russo-Ukraine War: The war escalated with the latest attacks by Russian troops amid intense talk of a possible end to the brutal war between Russia and Ukraine through diplomatic channels. In the latest turn of events, several regions of Ukraine, including its capital, were hit with missiles.
On Thursday morning, Russian missiles were dropped in a series targeting national infrastructure. Air raid sirens rang out across the country.
In Kyiv, the regional administration said air defense systems had been activated to stop the ongoing missile attack. Explosions were heard in the city.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said several explosions rocked Ukraine’s second-largest city. Ukrainian officials in several areas said some incoming Russian missiles were intercepted.
Vitaly Kim, governor of southern Ukraine’s Mykolaiv province, said five missiles were fired over the Black Sea. The northern command of the Ukrainian military said two planes were shot down in the Sumy region in the country’s northeast bordering Russia.
The Kyiv regional administration said fragments from a downed Russian missile damaged a private building in the Darnitsky district and a car parked nearby. Thursday’s attack is the latest in a series of Russian attacks targeting critical infrastructure across Ukraine. Moscow has launched such attacks on a weekly basis since October, causing widespread blackouts and power rationing.
After earlier attacks, the Ukrainian military reported shooting down incoming Russian missiles and explosive drones, but some still reached their targets, adding to the suffering of the population amid freezing temperatures.
As the latest wave of Russian attacks began on Thursday, authorities in the Dnipro, Odessa and Kryvyi Rih regions said they had cut off power to minimize damage to vital infrastructure if they were affected.
Earlier this month, the United States agreed to deliver Patriot missile batteries to Ukraine to boost the country’s defense.
The US and other allies also pledged energy-related equipment to help Ukraine withstand attacks on its infrastructure.
(with PTI inputs)
Read also: Top Indian diplomat says India wants to play role of mediator to end Russia-Ukraine war