Kyiv: Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine's capital of Kyiv and its surrounding region on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, deploying 741 aerial weapons, including 728 drones, seven Iskander-K cruise missiles, and six Kinzhal missiles, marking one of the largest attacks since the conflict began in 2022.
This is the second time that such a large-scale attack on the country has taken place this month by Moscow.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) reported in a post on X that Ukrainian defences neutralised 718 threats, with significant interceptions made by Kyiv's interceptor drones and mobile fire groups.
Despite the robust defence, the main strike hit Lutsk, causing fires at a garage cooperative and a private enterprise, with damage reported across multiple regions, including Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv.
"Russia launched an air attack overnight with 741 aerial weapons - including 728 drones, 7 Iskander-K cruise missiles, and 6 Kinzhal missiles. Our defences neutralised 718 threats, with dozens intercepted by Ukrainian interceptor drones and mobile fire groups. The main strike hit Lutsk, where fires broke out at a garage cooperative and a private enterprise. Damage was also reported in Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv regions," the Ukrainian MFA stated on X. At least two people were killed and over a dozen injured in the attacks, CNN reported, citing Kyiv officials.
The MFA further noted that in the capital of Kyiv, emergency crews were still battling a fire covering 8,000 square meters, calling for "painful sanctions" on Russian oil along with secondary sanctions on those who buy that oil.
"In Kyiv region, emergency crews are still battling a fire covering 8,000 square meters. Russia rejects every effort to stop the war. Painful sanctions on Russian oil, which fuels Moscow's war machine, are essential, along with secondary sanctions on those who buy that oil and fund further killings. Everyone who wants peace must act," the MFA's post added.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also described the attack as a "growing terror", calling for immediate bolstering of Ukraine's air defences and increased pressure on Moscow. (ANI)
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