In recent developments amid the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, airstrikes pounds the cities of Kyiv and Kharkiv.
Ukraine faced intensified airstrikes from Russia on Tuesday, targeting its two major cities, Karkhiv and Kyiv, and resulting in casualties and significant infrastructural damage. The assault left at least five civilians dead and 135 injured, as reported by Ukraine’s Interior Ministry. Kharkiv, the second-largest city in the northeast, witnessed 61 injuries, while Kyiv saw 17, alongside widespread destruction and disruptions in power supply.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed ongoing rescue operations following the attacks, which occurred amid escalating tensions. Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, had warned of retaliation following an alleged Ukrainian airstrike in Belgorod that Russia claimed killed 25 civilians.
The strikes caused considerable devastation, with a high-rise residential building in Kyiv sustaining damage resulting in casualties, including an elderly woman’s death and injuries to 49 individuals. Similarly, in Kharkiv, a 91-year-old woman lost her life, with several others injured in the assault. Zelenskiy condemned Russia’s actions, vowing consequences for the lives lost.
Amid the escalating conflict, Zelenskiy revealed that Russia had deployed a significant number of missiles and drones in recent attacks, aiming for maximum destruction. The assaults, employing combined drone and missile tactics, posed unprecedented challenges in defense, according to the Ukrainian President.
The conflict, ongoing for nearly two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion, shows no signs of abating. Ukraine, reliant on international support, has faced delays in aid totaling over $110 billion due to political debates in the U.S. and the European Union, despite the decision of US President Biden to provide some aid without Congress approval.
Zelenskiy, in discussions with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, highlighted the urgent need to bolster Ukraine’s air defense systems. Western leaders and diplomats echoed the urgency for increased support, emphasizing the critical nature of the situation.
Despite Ukraine’s successful interception of incoming missiles, the Ukrainian army’s chief emphasized the need for further defensive measures and munitions. The airstrikes inflicted damage on vital infrastructures, causing gas, electricity, and water outages in several districts of Kyiv and Kharkiv.
