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In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russia’s recent missile and drone assaults have resulted in the deaths of at least 18 individuals, including two children, across Ukraine. This marks one of the most severe attacks in recent months, with Dnipro and Kyiv bearing the brunt of the onslaught. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strikes, which targeted civilian infrastructure, leading to over 100 injuries nationwide.
Fatal Assaults in Dnipro and Kyiv
The devastation was particularly acute in Dnipro, where 12 fatalities were reported, including an eight-year-old boy and a woman, as rescuers combed through the debris of a collapsed apartment block. In the capital, six lives were lost, further underscoring the tragic impact of the Russian strikes. The Ukrainian government has stated that the attacks were concentrated on civilian and energy facilities, reflecting a strategy that appears aimed at terrorising the populace.
President Zelensky reported that the scale of the assault included the deployment of 656 strike drones and 73 missiles of various types—ballistic, cruise, and anti-ship—underscoring the comprehensive nature of this offensive. “We urgently need help from the United States in supplying missiles for Patriot systems,” he implored, highlighting the urgency of Ukraine’s need for defensive capabilities amid escalating aggression.
Kremlin’s Justification for the Strikes
The Kremlin has framed these military operations as a calculated response to earlier Ukrainian actions, with Defence Ministry officials claiming that their “strike objectives” have been met. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that these systematic strikes would continue, asserting that they primarily target Ukrainian military infrastructure. This justification follows accusations that Kyiv was responsible for a deadly attack on a student dormitory located in an occupied
