Several Ukrainian cities were attacked by Russian drones and missiles last night. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, “Russian evil can be stopped with weapons, as defenders do. It can be ended with sanctions.” It is the first airstrike of this magnitude in almost two months.
General Valery Zaluzhny, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, told Telegram that Caspian-based Tupolev Tu-95 strategic bombers were used in the attacks. The Ukrainian air defense system managed to destroy 21 of the 23 cruise missiles and 2 drones. However, several cities were still targeted.
Uman, a city in the center of the country, appears to be the hardest hit. Interior Minister Ihor Klimenko said at least 10 people were killed and 17 wounded when a rocket hit a residential complex there. Emergency services are present en masse at the scene and three children have been rescued from the rubble.
Two people were killed in an attack in the eastern city of Dnipro. Mayor Boris Filatov reported via messaging service Telegram that it concerned a young woman (31) and a three-year-old boy.
Then the anti-aircraft system was activated again in the capital, Kiev. The city council reported shooting down 11 cruise missiles and two drones. Residents have been advised to seek shelter. There were no reports of injuries or serious damage in the capital. It had been more than 50 days since the capital was last hit by Russian missile strikes.
Russia regularly attacked Ukraine’s cities and energy infrastructure last winter. In recent months, large-scale missile attacks have become rare.
