In intense missile and drone attacks carried out by Russia on Wednesday on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, and more than 10 surrounding regions, 20 civilians, including 4 children, were killed and about 60 people were injured.
The attack was coordinated on Wednesday to coincide with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 74th birthday, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned that Russia was preparing for a major assault.
In an airstrike on an apartment building in the northern Chernihiv region, 14 people, including 4 children, were killed; more than 50 others were injured. Two people were killed in the Poltava region. Four more people were killed in the capital Kyiv and three other cities.
The shortage of U.S.-made ‘Patriot’ air defense missiles caused by the West Asian war has greatly affected Ukraine’s air defense. In this context, Ukraine is facing severe challenges in countering Russia’s ‘ballistic’ missiles and the newly deployed high-speed ‘jet’ drones.
In this regard, President Zelensky said that “Russia carried out this attack with the intention of causing great pain and fear among the people of Ukraine,” and stressed the urgent need for air defense missiles.
At the same time, Russia said the attack was carried out targeting Ukraine’s missile and drone production and storage facilities. It also stated that precision strikes were carried out on ports, ship repair centers, and ships carrying military supplies in the southern Odesa region.
Ukraine’s retaliation: In response to Russian attacks, Ukraine struck the country’s oil refineries and military training bases by launching long-range missiles and drones.
Furthermore, reports say that a ship said to be carrying crude oil to India in the Black Sea region was attacked by Ukraine’s sea drones, causing the vessel to catch fire.
Russia thanks India’s efforts
The Russian presidential office, the Kremlin, has expressed its gratitude for India’s peace efforts to bring the Ukraine war to an end.
Speaking about reports that India had put forward a three-point plan to achieve a peace settlement in this war, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “We welcome India’s willingness to make a possible contribution to the situation in Ukraine; thank you for the ideas of our Indian friends.”
Earlier, President Vladimir Putin had praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he has the best ideas that both sides can accept in this issue. Similarly, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had also said that India’s proposal is more comprehensive than those of Turkey, Egypt, and the United States in bringing the conflict to an end.
