Russia launches airstrikes on Ukraine in retaliation for cross-border raids

Moscow: The Russian military has carried out a series of strikes on Ukrainian military-related targets in response to “terrorist” raids by Kiev deep into Russia, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said, RT reported.

In a statement on Friday, the ministry said its forces had launched a massive strike overnight in retaliation for “the terrorist acts of the Kiev regime,” adding that it involved long-range precision weapons, Kinzhal air-based hypersonic missiles and drones.

Building on this, officials detailed that the attack targeted industrial enterprises developing and producing drones and other robotic mobile systems, facilities manufacturing various military equipment in Kiev, as well as a military airfield and an oil refinery in an undisclosed location.

“The goal of the strike has been achieved. All designated facilities have been hit,” the ministry added.

Reacting to the development, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky described the attack as “one of the largest airstrikes” the country has faced, claiming it involved 550 aerial targets of various kinds, including 330 drones. He added that the raid affected Kiev, Dnepropetrovsk, Sumy, Kharkov, and Chernigov regions, resulting in 23 people being injured, RT reported.

Supporting this account, Ukrainian media outlets shared footage from Kiev showing massive blazes, with some districts covered by smoke so thick that residents were forced to wear masks. Local authorities reported damage to a warehouse, a repair facility, and several other buildings.

While the damage spread across multiple regions, Moscow maintained that its strikes do not target civilians and are aimed exclusively at Ukraine’s military-related facilities and troop concentrations. Further intensifying the situation, on Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported downing 48 Ukrainian drones over Russia. One UAV strike killed an elderly woman in Rostov Region. Moscow Region was also targeted, with one attack damaging a power station in the city of Sergiyev-Posad, north-east of the Russian capital, RT added.(ANI)

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