Russia Launches Major Ballistic Missile Assault on Ukraine, Kyiv Reports

In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russia has executed one of its largest ballistic missile attacks against Ukraine since the onset of its full-scale invasion over four years ago. The Ukrainian air force reported that the strike occurred overnight, involving a combination of attack drones and various missiles aimed primarily at the capital, Kyiv.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that more than 40 missiles were launched, with the majority targeting Kyiv, alongside 120 attack drones. Reports indicate that the assault was particularly intense, concentrated within a two-hour window. Eyewitness accounts described a strong smell of smoke lingering in the city the following morning, with air raid alerts still active.

Andriy Sybiha, acting foreign affairs minister, characterized the attack as the largest use of ballistic missiles in the conflict to date. Despite Ukraine's air defenses successfully intercepting 126 targets—including 18 missiles and 108 drones—23 missiles and 10 drones managed to strike 20 locations, resulting in significant damage.

Images from Kyiv revealed extensive destruction, including a large crater and severely damaged buildings, with a logistics warehouse being among the worst affected. The emergency services reported one fatality and 16 injuries within the city.

Across Ukraine, local authorities reported at least 16 civilian deaths and 77 injuries due to the recent barrage, with the highest casualties occurring in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed its “massive strike” aimed at what it termed defense industry facilities in Kyiv, stating that it would continue its operations.

In response to the attacks, President Zelensky emphasized the urgent need for enhanced protection against ballistic missiles, highlighting the critical demand for interceptors amid ongoing threats. Analysts suggest that the frequency of combined missile and drone strikes from Russia is likely to increase as part of its strategy to undermine Ukrainian infrastructure.

Ukraine continues to retaliate with its own strikes against Russian energy infrastructure, including a recent attack on a logistics hub in the Black Sea region.

Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).