Ukraine: In a tragic escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russia executed its most extensive aerial attack in the 22-month war, launching 122 missiles and 36 drones against Ukrainian targets. The devastating assault, reported by officials on Friday, resulted in at least 13 civilian casualties, making it the largest aerial barrage since the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Ukraine’s military chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, revealed that the Ukrainian air force successfully intercepted 87 of the missiles and 27 drones overnight, highlighting their resilience in the face of the onslaught. Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk described it as “the most massive aerial attack” since Russia’s invasion.
“The scale of the assault surpassed previous records, with the Ukrainian Air Force citing November 2022 as the previous high with 96 missiles launched by Russia. This devastating incident follows a pattern of increased aggression, with Ukraine’s summer counteroffensive having little impact along the front line due to challenging winter weather conditions”.
Officials in Ukraine urgently appealed to Western allies for additional air defenses to protect against such attacks. The toll of war fatigue is evident, straining efforts to sustain international support.
Scores of people were injured, and an unknown number were trapped under rubble during the 18-hour onslaught. Reports indicate damage to crucial infrastructure, including a maternity hospital, apartment blocks, and schools across Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the extensive use of various weapons by Russia, emphasizing the urgent need for international assistance to counter such devastating assaults.
Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat noted that Russia seemingly unleashed its full arsenal, excluding submarine-launched Kalibr missiles, in the attack. The assault, hitting six cities from east to west and north to south Ukraine, underscores the urgent need for a diplomatic resolution to bring an end to the devastating conflict.
