Officials disclosed that Russia initiated a substantial offensive, launching a total of 122 missiles and 36 drones against various targets in Ukraine, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 18 civilians across the country. This devastating aerial assault, as described by an air force official, marks the largest barrage witnessed in the ongoing 22-month-long conflict.
Ukraine's military chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, reported that the Ukrainian air force successfully intercepted 87 missiles and 27 drones of the Shahed-type during the night of the attack. Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk echoed the severity of the assault, branding it as "the most massive aerial attack" since Russia's comprehensive invasion that commenced in February 2022.
Records from the Ukrainian Air Force indicate that the previous largest assault occurred in November 2022, with Russia launching 96 missiles. This year, the highest prior to this recent attack stood at 81 missiles on March 9, indicating a continuous escalation in the intensity of the conflict.
The ongoing conflict along the front line has been significantly impeded by harsh winter conditions following Ukraine's unsuccessful summer counteroffensive, which failed to achieve substantial breakthroughs along the approximately 1,000-kilometer line of contact.
Ukrainian authorities have urgently appealed to their Western allies for increased air defense support to safeguard against aerial attacks like the devastating assault witnessed on Friday. These requests come amidst growing concerns about war fatigue, posing challenges in maintaining consistent support for Ukraine.
Warnings from Western officials and analysts have highlighted Russia's apparent strategy of limiting cruise missile strikes in recent months, presumably stockpiling munitions for massive assaults during the winter in an attempt to undermine Ukrainian resilience.
Amidst the devastating assault, reports indicate that at least 86 individuals sustained injuries, with an undisclosed number trapped under rubble during the relentless 18-hour onslaught. Various buildings, including a maternity hospital, residential blocks, and educational institutions, were reportedly damaged across Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lamented the extensive use of a diverse array of weaponry by Russia, encompassing ballistic and cruise missiles, in the assault. He conveyed his concerns via social media, emphasizing the wide-ranging arsenal employed by the Kremlin's forces.
Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, noted that Russia seemed to have employed nearly all available weaponry, excluding submarine-launched Kalibr missiles, during the attack.
The aerial onslaught, commencing on Thursday and persisting through the night, targeted six cities, including the capital Kyiv, spanning across various regions of Ukraine. Reports of casualties and structural damage poured in from multiple areas, depicting the widespread impact of the assault.
In Odesa, located on the southern coast, the wreckage from falling drones ignited a fire in a multi-story residential building, resulting in the tragic deaths of two individuals and injuries to 15, including two children, as reported by regional head Oleh Kiper.
