Attack in Ukraine: Russia launched massive missile and drones bombing against Kiev

The Russian armed forces launched a massive attack with ballistic missiles and attack drones against Kiev and other areas of Ukrainian territory during the morning of this Wednesday. The preliminary balance sheet provided by the local authorities confirms the death of at least two people in the capital and four more fatalities in the rest of the country.

In the Ukrainian capital, impacts and the fall of missile remnants were mainly concentrated in the Dárnitsia district, as detailed by the Kiev Military Administration. The city mayor, Vitali Klichkó, reported that various urban structures suffered material damage, while Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported that the Russian offensive jointly targeted critical infrastructure and residential facilities by using hundreds of air vectors.

In parallel, the city of Zaporizhzhia, located in the centre of the country, was targeted. The head of the regional military administration, Mikhail Semikin, confirmed that a transport-related facility was hit by the shells in the morning.

Zelensky warnings and emergency measures

The attack on the urban and industrial network took place hours after Ukraine’s President, Volodimir Zelensky, publicly warned about the existence of intelligence reports anticipating a large-scale Russian offensive. In the face of this scenario, the president had ordered to strengthen the custody and protection of the logistic nodes, in particular the bridges over the Dnipro River that communicate both sectors of Kiev.

As a result of the attacks and in order to prevent a widespread collapse of the national electricity network, the local authorities had scheduled energy cuts in several neighbourhoods of the capital. The population of Kiev had to take refuge on a recurrent basis in the network of metro stations and basements that were conditioned after the continued activation of the anti-aircraft alarms.

Poland strengthens its border with Patriot defenses

In response to the increase in air military activity and security incidents by Russian drones in the border area, the Government of Poland announced the deployment of Patriot air defence systems in Lublin province, border to Ukraine.

Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz explained that the measure seeks to protect the airspace, protect the civilian population and ensure transport transit in the area. The initiative also provides for the dispatch of additional troops and unmanned units to the towns of Bilgorae, Lukuva and Poniatova.

In parallel, the arrival on Polish soil of the Patriot batteries provided by Sweden, aimed at strengthening security at the NATO logistics centre in Rzeszów, a strategic point where the delivery of military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine is coordinated, was confirmed. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and his Minister of Defence, Pål Jonson, confirmed that the contingent includes about 100 Gripen troops and fighter aircraft to patrol the eastern flank of the Atlantic alliance.