Ukraine is bracing for major Russian drone and missile attacks on civilians after the Kremlin vowed it would launch “massive group strikes.” The Ukrainian city of Kharkiv was hit with guided aerial bombs, wounding nine people and killing two in Sumy after it was pounded with Russian missiles.
Russian Foreign Minister Threatens Escalation
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov threatened more regular and bigger air-strikes on Ukraine in response to a major attack on Russia. The Kremlin is furious over Ukraine’s biggest assault on Moscow which left it covered in ‘black rain’ and clouded with a blanket of dark smoke. More than 1,000 drones hit all over Russia on Thursday, including 200 on the capital, blasting for the second time a major oil refinery just nine miles from the Kremlin.
Defiant Ukrainian Leadership
Defiant Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky responded to the Thursday attack, stating: “This is a fully justified response to Russian attacks on our cities and communities, and another important result of our warriors’ work against facilities that sustain Russia’s war machine. In recent days, all of our partners have noted the precision and effectiveness of our mid-range strikes and long-range sanctions. It is time the war ended, and Russia must take the necessary steps in diplomacy.”
UK Support for Ukraine
The latest escalation happened as the UK prepares to send 150,000 drones and air defence systems to Ukraine, paid for with money from frozen Russian assets. A new £752 million fund was revealed during a meeting of NATO defence ministers and the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Brussels. Included in the latest package are Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) and ground-based radar systems aimed at bolstering Ukraine's air defences against Russia's continued missile and drone attacks.
Impact on Russia
Ukraine’s long-range strike missions inside Russia have largely targeted Russia’s fuel industry and has led to major energy shortages, causing a nightmare for President Vladimir Putin. The US-based Institute for the Study of War underlined the growing effect the Ukrainian attacks are having on Russia. There are restrictions on fuel sales throughout Russia and shortages are also beginning to decrease the supplies to frontline troops in Ukraine. The ISW said Ukraine’s attacks: “...demonstrate growing vulnerabilities in Russian air defences and dilemmas in how the Kremlin chooses to interact with the domestic costs of the war it started.”
