On Thursday, Russia launched a heavy aerial attack on Ukraine for the third time in four days, unleashing missiles and scores of drones. The Ukrainian air force reported that Russian forces fired five missiles and 74 Shahed drones at Ukrainian targets. Fortunately, the air defenses were able to intercept most of the incoming threats. Two missiles and 60 drones were stopped, while 14 drones fell before reaching their intended targets.
Debris from destroyed drones fell in three districts of Kyiv, causing minor damage to civilian infrastructure but no injuries were reported. Russia's persistent long-range strikes on civilian areas have been a disturbing aspect of the conflict since the invasion began in February 2022.
Ukrainian officials have been advocating for Western countries supporting their war effort to lift restrictions on targeting Russian locations with the long-range weapons provided to them. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need for international allies to empower Ukraine in deciding strategic strikes on Russian soil to expedite the end of the war.
The European Union's top diplomat echoed Zelenskyy's call to end limitations on Ukraine's military actions. Ukraine has also deployed domestically produced drones to target Russian assets.
On the other side, the Russian military claimed to have thwarted an overnight attack on Crimea, destroying three Ukrainian sea drones aimed at the Black Sea peninsula. Additionally, Ukrainian drones were reportedly destroyed at a distance from the peninsula's shore.
Ukraine's Army General Staff acknowledged the country's involvement in recent strikes on oil depots deep inside Russia, causing fires in the Rostov and Kirov regions. These attacks were part of Ukraine's strategy to disrupt logistical infrastructure supporting Russia's military operations.
As the conflict continues, both sides are engaged in escalating military actions, with Ukraine seeking international support to counter Russian aggression and bring an end to the war.
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at AP News
