Huge Russian strike on Ukraine's capital kills at least 17, officials say
Article excerpt
Russia has launched its large-scale attack on Ukraine's capital to date, killing at least 17 people and wounding scores more, authorities say.
KYIV, Russia attacked Ukraine with a massive wave of missiles and drones on Thursday concentrated on the capital Kyiv, killing at least 13 people and wounding more than 80.
The Air Force said Russia launched 74 missiles and more than 490 attack drones, some of which targeted Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv and Kharkiv.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned of a major Russian aerial assault on Wednesday, when he cut short a visit to Ireland. The Russian strikes come after Ukrainian deep strikes inflicted serious damage on its energy infrastructure, causing a fuel supply crisis, and forced authorities to declare a state of emergency on the Crimean peninsula.
Local authorities recorded damage and destruction at more than 30 locations in all districts of Kyiv, including a hospital, a household appliances warehouse and a hotel in the city center.
Residential buildings were among the sites hit, with over 20 direct hits reported. Both Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv military administration, said a number of civilians were believed to be trapped under the ruins of the damaged housing.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko described the attack as the “most massive” to hit the Ukrainian capital and said emergency response teams were attempting to rescue victims buried under the rubble. He also said the city would declare an official day of mourning on July 3 to commemorate the victims.
“Russia continues to terrorize peaceful Ukrainians,” Svyrydenko said. “Enhanced air defense of Ukraine and tougher sanctions that will deprive Russia of the ability to produce missiles are the only way to stop this terror.”
Ukrainian air defense managed to shoot down most of the drones and 44 of 46 cruise missiles, but only four out of 24 ballistic missiles launched by Moscow. Kyiv has reported a deficit of PAC-3 and PAC-2 interceptors following U.S. military operations against Iran.
“Decisions on air defense systems and missiles for Ukraine are needed now, not later!” Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on social media. “Decisions on increasing sanctions pressure on Russia are needed now, not later! Decisions on increasing support for Ukraine, including energy assistance, are needed now, not later!”
As of press time, Russia’s Defense Ministry had not issued an official statement regarding the latest massive attack on Ukraine. It did, however, report the interception and destruction of 327 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory.