Ukraine Endures Devastating Russian Air Assault, Six Dead and Dozens Wounded

[Social Media]

 

Ukraine experienced one of the most extensive air attacks since the beginning of the Russian invasion. According to Mykola Oleshchuk, the head of Ukraine's air force, Russia launched a massive barrage of missiles and drones, marking a grim chapter in the ongoing conflict. "The most massive aerial attack" is how Oleshchuk described the assault, as 127 missiles and 109 attack drones targeted more than half of Ukraine's regions. Despite the scale of the attack, Ukraine's air defense forces managed to shoot down 102 missiles and 99 drones, showcasing their resilience amidst an onslaught designed to cripple the nation.

 

At least six people were killed, and dozens more were wounded in the wake of these strikes. The attacks, which began overnight and continued into the morning, caused significant damage to Ukraine's power infrastructure, leading to widespread blackouts. The entire country was placed under air raid alert, with citizens urged to seek shelter. Russia confirmed the attacks, stating that it had targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure—a long-term tactic aimed at debilitating the nation's critical systems. "All designated targets were hit," claimed the Russian defense ministry, boasting about the resulting power outages and disruption to the rail transport of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine's front lines.

 

 

The scale of the attack not only aimed at physical destruction but also seemed to target the morale of the Ukrainian people. The recent successful incursion by Ukrainian forces into the Russian region of Kursk had boosted the spirits of the Ukrainian populace. However, with Monday's strikes, Russia sought to remind Ukraine and its Western allies of its capacity to inflict misery whenever it chose. The message from Moscow was clear: despite setbacks on the battlefield, Russia still holds the power to make life unbearable for ordinary Ukrainians. 

 

 

This devastating attack saw 15 regions of Ukraine targeted, with weapons ranging from drones to cruise missiles and supersonic missiles. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal confirmed the widespread damage, stating on Telegram, "There are wounded and dead." Among the victims were a 69-year-old man and a 47-year-old man, both killed in separate attacks in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The regional governor, Sergiy Lysak, reported that several others were injured, including a 14-year-old girl. In the Zaporizhzhia region, a man lost his life when his house was struck by a missile.

 

The mayor of Lutsk reported that one person was killed when an "infrastructure facility" was hit, leaving five others wounded and most of the city without running water. In Izyum, located in the Kharkiv region, another man was killed in a missile strike, and in the Zhytomyr region in western Ukraine, a woman died after homes and infrastructure were hit by missiles.

 

The damage to Ukraine's infrastructure was severe, with power outages reported in many cities, including the capital, Kyiv, and water supplies disrupted. Among the targets was one of the remaining power stations, a hydroelectric plant north of Kyiv. The full extent of the damage to the plant and other facilities was still being assessed. The systematic targeting of Ukraine's energy infrastructure has been a consistent strategy for Russia since its full-scale invasion began in February 2022. In recent months, this campaign has intensified, with Russia focusing on Ukraine's power grid, leading to frequent and widespread blackouts across the country.

 

In June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that Russia had destroyed half of Ukraine's electricity-generating capacity since it began its concentrated attacks on energy facilities in late March. As a result, Ukraine has been forced to buy energy from the European Union, although this supply is insufficient to meet the nation's needs. Consequently, Ukraine has implemented planned nationwide blackouts to prioritize critical services such as hospitals and military installations.

 

The recent attack not only highlights the ongoing struggles Ukraine faces in maintaining its energy infrastructure but also underscores the broader challenges it faces in the conflict. Over the past year, Ukraine has faced numerous setbacks on the battlefield, particularly in the eastern Donbas region, where Russia has made steady gains. There have been reports of issues with Ukrainian mobilization and concerns about a dwindling supply of manpower.

 

However, Ukraine's recent incursion into the Kursk region provided a much-needed morale boost. Videos of Ukrainian soldiers raising their flag over captured Russian villages circulated widely, demonstrating Kyiv's capability to execute complex and successful military operations. These actions also sent a message to Western allies that Ukraine remains a formidable force capable of striking deep into Russian territory. Yet, the recent Russian air assault serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that lie ahead.

 

In response to the latest wave of attacks, President Zelensky called on Western allies, including Britain, the United States, and France, to amend their rules and allow Ukraine to use their weapons to strike deeper inside Russia. Currently, Ukraine is permitted to use some Western-supplied weapons to target locations within Russia, but not long-range weapons. Zelensky emphasized that if European air forces collaborated more closely with Ukraine's air defense, "we could do much more to protect lives."

 

The conflict is not limited to Ukraine's borders. During the attack, NATO member Poland reported that an "object," likely a drone, entered its territory. Polish army spokesman Jacek Goryszewski stated, "Most likely it was a drone and we assume so, because the trajectory of the flight and the speed indicate that it was definitely not a missile." NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah condemned the Russian attacks on Ukraine, labeling any breach of NATO airspace by Russia as "irresponsible and potentially dangerous."

 

The situation remains tense, with reports that Ukraine attempted to attack an oil refinery in Yaroslavl, a city northeast of Moscow, on Monday. The regional governor reported no casualties or damage from the attempted strike. Additionally, Russia's defense ministry claimed to have destroyed nine drones over its Saratov region, located some 560 miles from the Ukrainian border.

 

As the conflict drags on, the human cost continues to mount, with both sides engaged in a brutal struggle for control and survival. Monday's air assault on Ukraine is a grim reminder of the destructive power Russia still wields and the precarious position Ukraine finds itself in as it continues to defend its sovereignty and the lives of its people.

 

Credit: BBC 2024-08-27

 

 

 

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[thaibeachlovers]

7 hours ago, Social Media said:

In response to the latest wave of attacks, President Zelensky called on Western allies, including Britain, the United States, and France, to amend their rules and allow Ukraine to use their weapons to strike deeper inside Russia.

IMO if they do so and Ukrainian missiles target Moscow, the recent attack will be a mere pinprick compared to the likely response, which might even include tactical nuclear strikes.