Russia unleashed a fresh wave of aerial attacks across Ukraine early Friday, killing at least nine people in two cities and destroying several buildings. Explosions were heard in the capital, Kyiv, marking the first assault there in more than a month.
(Bloomberg) — Russia unleashed a fresh wave of aerial attacks across Ukraine early Friday, killing at least nine people in two cities and destroying several buildings. Explosions were heard in the capital, Kyiv, marking the first assault there in more than a month.Â
The strikes involved Tupolev Tu-95 bombers coming from Russia’s Caspian Sea region as well as drones, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said on Telegram. Ukraine’s air defenses destroyed 21 out of 23 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles, as well as two drones, Zaluzhnyi said.Â
Just over a year into its invasion, Russia is locked in a web of complex ground battles in Ukraine’s east, and has also relied heavily on aerial fire-power to strike far-flung targets. But large-scale missile attacks have become less frequent in recent months after they largely failed to bring down Ukraine’s energy network over winter.Â
Ukraine’s Allies Fear Breakthrough Unlikely Before Next Year
Ukrainian air defense also appears to have improved its ability to shoot down aerial targets after Kyiv’s western allies sent billions in military aid.
By preliminary estimates, Ukraine’s air defense shot down 11 cruise missiles and two drones aimed at Kyiv, the city’s military administration chief Serhiy Popko said on Telegram. While no deaths were reported in the capital, missile debris hit a power line in one of the districts, according to Popko.Â
The presidents of the Czech Republic and Slovakia are due to visit Kyiv on Friday.
Both sides have been preparing for an expected offensive by Ukrainian forces this spring, with the expected aim of driving toward the city of Melitopol in the south and splitting Russian forces. Ukraine’s allies, however, are increasingly skeptical its military will be able to make a decisive breakthrough this year.Â
Explosions were heard in a number of regions across Ukraine’s central and southern regions early Friday, according to Ukrainian TV channel TSN.
A woman and a child were killed in Dnipro in central Ukraine while at least seven people were killed in Uman, a city further west with a pre-war population of about 90,000. Another 18 people were wounded there, with 11 taken to hospital. A missile struck a multi-story apartment block in Uman with rescue efforts continuing.Â
The strikes come a day after Russia launched missiles on Mykolayiv in the south, also after a relatively long pause in hostilities. That attack killed one and wounded more than 20 people, according to local governor Vitaliy Kim.Â
–With assistance from Aliaksandr Kudrytski.
(Updates death toll, details throughout.)
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