Russia launched large-scale drone and missile strikes on Ukraine’s capital and different elements of the nation early on Friday, officers stated.
At the least three individuals have been killed and 49 injured within the strikes, in line with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The aerial raids focused Kyiv, in addition to the town of Lutsk and the Ternopil area within the north-west of the nation.
Russia’s defence ministry stated the strikes have been in response to “terrorist acts by the Kyiv regime”, including that it had focused navy websites.
The ministry stated its armed forces “in a single day launched a large strike with high-precision long-range air, sea and ground-based weapons, in addition to assault drones”.
The assault got here after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned US President Donald Trump he would reply to Ukraine’s current strikes on Russian airbases.
In a post on X on Friday, Zelensky stated that “now could be precisely the second when America, Europe, and everybody around the globe can cease this warfare collectively by pressuring Russia”.
He made a thinly veiled reference to Trump’s obvious unwillingness to place stress on Russia.
“If somebody is just not making use of stress and is giving the warfare extra time to take lives – that’s complicity and accountability,” Zelensky wrote. “We should act decisively.”
Zelensky stated that “as of now”, three deaths had been confirmed within the strikes – all workers of Ukraine’s state emergency companies.
He stated the assault used greater than 400 drones and greater than 40 missiles, and the variety of individuals injured “could enhance”.
In an earlier assertion, Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated 4 individuals had been killed within the nation’s capital.
Air raid alerts have been in place in Kyiv, the place a residential constructing was hit, and the town’s prepare system was disrupted after shelling broken metro tracks.
Tens of 1000’s of civilians within the capital spent a stressed few hours in underground shelters.
From the centre of the town, extended bursts of machine gun hearth may very well be heard as air defences on the outskirts tried to deliver down scores of drones aimed toward Kyiv.
Occasionally, the distinctive buzz of drones overhead is also heard.
Brilliant flashes of sunshine, typically mirrored on close by buildings, can be adopted, 5 or ten seconds later, by thunderous explosions.
Gleb Garanich by way of ReutersAuthorities say the assaults included 38 cruise missiles, which is the type Ukraine focused in Sunday’s so-called “Spider’s Web” operation, suggesting this assault may very well be a message from the Kremlin.
The cities of Kharkiv, Sumy and Luhansk have been additionally beneath air raid alerts.
Elsewhere, Ternopil’s navy chief Vyacheslav Negoda stated Friday’s strike was the “most large air assault on our area up to now”.
Mayor of Ternopil, Igor Polishchuk, stated 5 individuals have been wounded within the assault and there was injury to properties, faculties and a authorities facility.
In Lutsk, 5 individuals have been injured in an assault utilizing 15 drones and 6 missiles, in line with mayor Ihor Polishchuk.
In the meantime, the Russian defence ministry stated its air defences shot down 174 Ukrainian drones in a single day in elements of Russia and occupied Crimea.
The ministry stated Neptune anti-ship cruise missiles have been additionally intercepted over the Black Sea.
Russia’s newest assault on Ukraine comes days after Kyiv launched its greatest long-range drone strike on no less than 40 Russian warplanes at 4 navy bases.
Zelensky stated 117 drones have been used within the Spider’s Net operation by the SBU safety service, putting “34% of [Russia’s] strategic cruise missile carriers”.
Earlier this month, direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine befell in Istanbul, however ended with out a main breakthrough.
Ukrainian negotiators stated Russia rejected an “unconditional ceasefire” – a key demand of Kyiv and its Western allies together with the US.
The Russian group stated they’d proposed a two-or three-day truce “in sure areas” of the huge entrance line, however gave no additional particulars.
Trump stated Putin vowed to “very strongly” reply to Ukraine’s current assault on Russian airbases, throughout a telephone name that lasted greater than an hour on Wednesday.
Moscow had beforehand stated that navy choices have been “on the desk” for its response to Ukraine’s assault.
Final week, Trump appeared to set a two-week deadline for Putin, threatening to alter how the US is responding to Russia if he believed Putin was nonetheless “tapping” him alongside on peace efforts in Ukraine.
