On Sunday, Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, and several other cities were subjected to a relentless and prolonged assault by Russia, involving nearly 600 drones and dozens of missiles. This hours-long attack tragically claimed the lives of at least four people in Kyiv and left dozens more injured across the nation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the assault, stating, ‘A massive Russian attack on Ukraine lasted for more than 12 hours. Savage strikes, a deliberate, targeted terror against ordinary cities.’
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the extensive bombardment began Saturday at 8:30 p.m. and persisted through Sunday morning. They reported that close to 600 drones and 48 missiles were deployed, with five missiles and 31 drones successfully bypassing air defense systems.
Ukrainian officials expressed concerns that the casualty figures could increase as emergency responders continued their arduous search for survivors amidst the rubble.
Sunday’s assault reportedly focused on Kyiv, where tragically, a 12-year-old girl was among those killed. The attack also caused significant damage to Ukraine’s Cardiology Institute, an industrial bakery, a tire manufacturing plant, and numerous residential buildings.
Beyond Kyiv, the southern city of Zaporizhzhia suffered severe Russian rocket attacks, leaving at least 27 people injured and damaging 14 apartment buildings. Similar strikes were also reported in Sumy, Odessa, and other regions.
Since its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia has consistently used aerial assaults to devastate Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, military production sites, critical railway hubs, and other essential facilities. These attacks frequently extend to residential neighborhoods, a tactic military analysts interpret as an attempt to demoralize the Ukrainian populace.
Despite a lack of major military advances on the front lines recently, Moscow has intensified its bombardments, seemingly aiming to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense capabilities through sheer volume.
Russia’s reliance on attack drones in its offensives has surged, with a significant boost in their domestic production and manufacturing. Concurrently, Ukraine has ramped up its own long-range drone strikes deep within Russian territory.
This substantial increase in Russian drone supply, combined with advanced technology and new tactical approaches, presents a growing challenge for Ukraine. Early in the conflict, Ukraine held an advantage in drone warfare, but Moscow has steadily eroded that edge.
The escalating drone threat has intensified Ukraine’s efforts to develop effective countermeasures. General Oleksandr Syrsky, Ukraine’s chief military commander, announced in Kyiv this week the establishment of a new Air Force branch dedicated to unmanned air-defense systems.
General Syrsky also mentioned that Ukraine is outfitting helicopters with specialized drone-targeting equipment and exploring the use of light aircraft modified with machine-gun mounts.
Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to depend heavily on its Western allies for advanced air-defense systems, crucial for protecting against Russia’s most potent ballistic missiles.
President Zelensky confirmed on Saturday that Ukraine recently acquired a Patriot air defense system from Israel, with an additional two systems anticipated by autumn. He did not disclose the origin of these forthcoming systems.
The American-made Patriot system is globally recognized for its exceptional capability to intercept ballistic missiles reliably. Ukrainian officials have lauded the system, attributing it with saving countless lives.
Following Sunday’s attacks, Mr. Zelensky pledged a robust response and implored Ukraine’s allies to continue pressuring Russia for an immediate cease-fire.
He remarked that ‘This vile attack came virtually as the close of U.N. General Assembly week, and this is exactly how Russia declares its true position,’ highlighting Russia’s disregard for international diplomacy.