Shafaqna Pakistan: Russia launched a massive overnight assault on Ukraine early Tuesday, firing hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles that killed 23 people and injured 130 others. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Moscow could carry out another large-scale attack for a second consecutive night.
The strikes targeted several cities, including Kyiv and Dnipro, following Russian warnings of “systematic” attacks on the Ukrainian capital after a drone strike last month on a dormitory in the Russian-controlled region of Luhansk. Kyiv has denied responsibility for targeting the dormitory.
The latest barrage marked the third major attack on Kyiv in less than a month. Russia has continued its sustained campaign of strikes against Ukrainian cities, including the capital, since launching its full-scale invasion of its neighbour in 2022.
US-brokered talks on the war in Ukraine have stalled, with Washington focused on Iran, while Russian battlefield advances have slowed and Kyiv has boosted strikes on Russian oil refineries.
ZELENSKIY CALLS FOR AIR DEFENCE SUPPLIES
Zelenskiy said there was evidence Russian forces could strike again on Tuesday night.
“According to our intelligence, another large-scale attack may occur tonight,” he said in his nightly video address.
“Please, I strongly urge you to pay attention to air raid alerts.”
Zelenskiy repeated that Ukraine was short of weapons to counter incoming Russian missiles. “Unfortunately, the current level of supplies for our air defence does not enable us to intercept a significant portion of the missiles,” he said.
He said more than 70 missiles and 650 drones had been deployed overnight and Russian forces had deployed 100 more drones throughout the day on Tuesday.
Earlier, the Ukrainian president urged Washington to send additional Patriot missile interceptors.
“If Ukraine is not protected from ballistic and other missile strikes, these attacks will continue,” Zelenskiy said on Telegram.
The Kremlin said the war had entered “a new paradigm” after what it called “inhumane acts of terror” by Ukraine’s military against civilians, echoing accusations Kyiv has made against Russian forces. Moscow warned last week of systematic strikes and urged foreigners to leave Kyiv.
Zelenskiy sent a letter last week to US President Donald Trump and Congress, asking for air defence systems. As of Monday, officials said he had not received a response.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged partners to impose tougher sanctions on Moscow and provide more military support.
“Moscow is losing on the battlefield. No number of missiles can change this. What we can change is Russia’s ability to continue terror,” he said on X.
The US has been Ukraine’s main foreign supplier of weapons but Kyiv has also been purchasing Patriot missiles through a NATO initiative, financed by its European allies.
Source: Dunya News
