Kyiv, Ukraine — Russia launched 122 missiles and a rating of drones towards Ukrainian targets, officers stated Friday, killing at the least 20 civilians throughout the nation in what an air pressure official stated was the largest aerial barrage of the battle.
The Ukrainian air pressure intercepted many of the ballistic and cruise missiles and the Shahed-type drones in a single day, stated Ukraine’s army chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
Air Pressure commander Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on his official Telegram channel that it was “probably the most huge aerial assault” since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
STRINGER / REUTERS
In line with the Ukrainian air pressure, the earlier largest assault was in November 2022 when Russia launched 96 missiles towards Ukraine. This yr, the largest was 81 missiles on March 9, air pressure information present.
An unknown quantity buried beneath rubble throughout the roughly 18-hour onslaught, Ukrainian officers stated. Among the many buildings reported to be broken throughout Ukraine had been a maternity hospital, residence blocks and colleges.
The well being ministry within the metropolis of Dnipro stated the maternity hospital was “severely broken” however the workers and sufferers managed to shelter in time, AFP studies.
STRINGER / REUTERS
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated the Kremlin’s forces used all kinds of weapons, together with ballistic and cruise missiles.
“As we speak, Russia used almost each sort of weapon in its arsenal,” Zelenskyy stated on social media platform X, previously Twitter.
Ukrainian Air Pressure spokesman Yurii Ihnat stated Russia “apparently launched every little thing they’ve,” aside from submarine-launched Kalibr missiles, within the assault.
The aerial assault that started Thursday and continued by means of the night time hit six cities, together with the capital, Kyiv, and different areas from east to west and north to south Ukraine, in accordance with authorities.
Ukrainian Emergency Service by way of AP
Preventing alongside the entrance line is basically slowed down by winter climate after Ukraine’s summer season counteroffensive did not make a big breakthrough alongside the roughly 620-mile line of contact.
Ukrainian officers have urged the nation’s Western allies to supply it with extra air defenses to guard it towards aerial assaults like Friday’s. Their appeals have come as indicators of battle fatigue pressure efforts to maintain assist in place.
Overseas Minister Dmytro Kuleba was amongst Ukrainian officers calling on Kyiv’s allies to step up their assist Friday. “As we speak, thousands and thousands of Ukrainians awoke to the loud sound of explosions. I want these sounds of explosions in Ukraine may very well be heard all around the globe,” Reuters quotes him as saying.
