Russia Launches Extensive Bombardment of Ukraine Amid Ongoing Conflict

Escalation of Attacks: Russia’s Bombardment of Ukraine

On Monday, Russia executed its third extensive bombardment of Ukraine within a week, unleashing a wave of explosions that reverberated through Kyiv and various other cities early in the morning. This aggressive strike coincided with the onset of the school year, with missiles being launched amidst reports of intense combat along the eastern frontlines of Ukraine.

The timing of the strikes was particularly significant, occurring just a day after Ukraine conducted drone attacks on refineries and electrical facilities near Moscow. These drone strikes resulted in fires and damage, showcasing the ongoing conflict’s reach beyond Ukraine’s borders.

The assault began around 5:30 a.m., with air raid alerts being lifted approximately an hour later. Preliminary reports indicated that at least two individuals sustained injuries during the attacks.

Under a law implemented following Russia’s invasion in 2022, schools in Ukraine are mandated to provide bomb shelters for students or to transition to online learning. In areas close to the frontlines, most educational activities are conducted virtually. However, many schools in Kyiv remain operational, with children attending classes even on days when the city is under missile threat.

Serhiy Popko, the military administrator for Kyiv, disclosed on social media that Russia had launched around 10 ballistic missiles and over 10 cruise missiles targeting the city. The cruise missiles, characterized by their slower speed but greater maneuverability, spent nearly two hours in flight before directing their course toward Kyiv, arriving simultaneously with the ballistic missiles.

This particular attack was notable for the sheer volume of ballistic missiles aimed at Kyiv, as reported by Mr. Popko. Fortunately, early assessments of the resultant damage were minor. Debris from intercepted missiles fell across four districts of the city, igniting fires in four vehicles and causing damage to commercial properties, as outlined by Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko. He confirmed that two people had been injured in the blasts.

Additionally, explosions were reported in Kharkiv, a city situated near the Russian border in northeastern Ukraine. Prior to the Monday attack, President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed that Russia had launched over 160 missiles of various types, alongside 780 guided aerial bombs and 400 attack drones at Ukrainian targets during the preceding week.

In light of the escalating violence, Ukrainian officials have urgently appealed to their allies to consider allowing the use of long-range weaponry provided by Western nations, including rockets and cruise missiles, to retaliate against targets within Russia. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military is intensifying its operations with domestically manufactured drones. On Sunday, Russia’s military claimed it had successfully thwarted a significant Ukrainian drone offensive; however, the fires reported at refineries and power plants suggested that some drones had indeed penetrated Russian defenses.