Russia launched several waves of missile and drone attacks overnight targeting Kiev and other areas, Ukraine’s military said early Tuesday, a day after Moscow’s biggest such offensive since the start of the war.
Kryvyi Rih, Kiev and areas in central and eastern Ukraine were on airstrike alert for most of the night.
Russian bombers and drones have flown in the direction of Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities warned in the early hours of the morning, declaring an alert for airstrikes in much of the country, the day after massive Russian strikes against energy infrastructure.
“The Ukrainian Air Force confirms the take-off of (Tupolev bombers) Tu-95MS from Engels Air Base (in southwestern Russia). Missiles may enter Ukrainian airspace in about two hours,” the Ukrainian air force said via Telegram at around 04:00 (local and Greek time), adding that drones were also headed for its territory.
Air defense systems of the Kyiv region were deployed several times overnight to repel missiles and drones aimed at the Ukrainian capital, the region’s military command said on Telegram.
Series of explosions in Kyiv
Journalists from the Reuters news agency, as well as Ukrainian media reported that three series of explosions were heard in Kiev.
It remains unknown whether these were target shootings or hits.
The extent of the attacks was not immediately known. Reuters could not independently verify the reports.
Attack on a hotel in central Ukraine
Two people were killed in Krivi Rih. Earlier it was known by Ukrainian officials that a Russian missile hit a hotel in the city of central Ukraine.
Today, a Russian missile hit the Hotel in Kryvyi Rih. People are trapped under the rubble. Ukrainians have a moral right to defend themselves. It’s unjust to ban strikes within Russia’s territory. Lifting this ban could end the war sooner and save lives#LetUkraineStrikeBack pic.twitter.com/ubaaSOS1Up
— Feel on Saturday🇺🇦 (@AlexSmolin2303) August 26, 2024
Four people were injured in the attack and taken to a hospital, where they are being treated, Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the Kriviy Rih military service, said on the Telegram messaging app.
Serhii Lysak, the governor of Dnipro, where the city is administratively located, said via Telegram that the infrastructure was completely destroyed.
The “most massive” attack of the war
On Monday, Russia launched more than 200 missiles and drones, killing at least seven people and significantly damaging energy infrastructure, in what the chief of the air force called the “most massive” attack of the entire war. of Ukraine, Mykola Oleschuk.
Widespread water and power outages were reported in many areas. According to Kiev, Moscow has again targeted the power grid ahead of winter.
Ukrainian air defenses shot down 102 out of 127 missiles fired by Russia and 99 out of 109 drones launched, Air Force Chief Oleschuk said via Telegram.
According to Prime Minister Denys Smyhal, infrastructure in 15 regions was destroyed, while President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that “major damage in the energy sector” had been caused.
Condemned by Joe Biden
US President Joe Biden condemned Russia’s “outrageous” raid in a statement released by his administration, promising that the US would send more energy equipment to help Ukraine restore its energy grid.
The Russian Defense Ministry said its strikes on Monday hit “all designated targets” in Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure.
Source: APE-MPE-AFP-Reuters, ertnews.gr
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