A barrage of Russian missiles targeted Kyiv on Wednesday, wounding at least 53 people, officials said, as the Ukrainian president sought more military support in Europe after a trip to Washington secured no new pledges.
Quick Read
- Missile Attacks on Kyiv: Kyiv was targeted by a barrage of Russian missiles, causing at least 53 injuries. The city’s air defenses were activated, intercepting 10 ballistic missiles launched towards the capital.
- Damage and Casualties: Despite the interception of missiles, debris struck residential areas and a children’s hospital. Injuries were reported, and buildings, including an apartment and a private house, were damaged.
- Continued Threat from Russia: The attack highlights the ongoing threat from Russia’s missile arsenal. The U.K. Ministry of Defense noted Russia’s stockpiling of cruise missiles, suggesting a possible intensified bombardment of Ukraine’s infrastructure.
- Winter Bombardment Strategy: As winter impedes ground operations, Russia might focus on long-range air bombardment, particularly targeting Ukraine’s power grid to disrupt essential services.
- Ukraine’s Need for Military Support: Ukraine faces a shortage of air defense and other munitions. President Zelenskyy’s recent visit to Washington aimed to secure further support, including a request for $61.4 billion, but did not result in new commitments.
- Zelenskyy’s Diplomatic Efforts: Zelenskyy met with Nordic leaders in Oslo, who expressed strong support for Ukraine and promised comprehensive assistance. He may also attend an EU summit to discuss continued support.
- Nordic Countries’ Support: Denmark pledged a Ukraine support package worth almost 1 billion euros, while Norway promised additional air defenses. The Nordic leaders emphasized the importance of unity against Russia’s actions.
- Latvia-Ukraine Drone Agreement: Latvia and Ukraine announced a collaboration on drone production to enhance Ukraine’s capabilities in the war.
- Impact on Kyiv’s Dniprovskyi District: The missile debris caused fires and damages in the Dniprovskyi district, leading to multiple injuries and hospitalizations.
- OSCE Report: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe reported that Russian forces have extensively used explosive weapons in populated areas of Ukraine, causing significant civilian harm. The report also noted Ukrainian forces shelling occupied areas, albeit on a smaller scale.
The Associated Press has the story:
A Russian missile attack on Kyiv injures 53 as Ukraine pleads for more EU aid
Newslooks- KYIV, Ukraine (AP)
A barrage of Russian missiles targeted Kyiv on Wednesday, wounding at least 53 people, officials said, as the Ukrainian president sought more military support in Europe after a trip to Washington secured no new pledges.
Loud explosions rocked Kyiv at 3 a.m. as the city’s air defenses were activated for the second time this week. Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 10 ballistic missiles toward the capital and all were intercepted by air defenses, but their debris struck homes and a children’s hospital.
The attack underscored the continuing threat to Ukraine from the Kremlin’s missile arsenal in the 21-month war. Russia has been stockpiling its air-launched cruise missiles from its heavy bomber fleet, according to a recent assessment by the U.K. Ministry of Defense.
That may herald another heavy winter bombardment of Ukraine’s power grid. Moscow last year targeted energy infrastructure in an effort to deny Ukrainians heat, light and running water and break their fighting spirit.
As winter sets in and hinders troop movements, allowing little change along the front line, long-range air bombardment plays a growing role.
Ukraine has dwindling supplies of air defense munitions and other ammunition. That prompted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Washington on Tuesday in an effort to persuade lawmakers to approve President Joe Biden’s request for $61.4 billion for Ukraine. His trip accomplished no breakthrough.
Zelenskyy said on Telegram on Wednesday that he and Biden agreed to work on increasing the number of air defense systems in Ukraine. “The terrorist state has just demonstrated how crucial this decision is,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the overnight strikes.
On Wednesday, he met in Oslo with Nordic leaders who feel keenly the potential threat from nearby Russia and are among Kyiv’s staunchest supporters.
Zelenskyy may also attend a regular European Union summit on Thursday in Brussels, where the continent’s leaders are expected to discuss their backing for Ukraine. Officials did not confirm such a trip.
“Russia is eager to exploit divisions,” the senior leaders from Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden said in a joint statement in Oslo. “We must continue to stand united against Russia’s illegal and immoral war.”
They vowed “comprehensive assistance” for Ukraine. “Now is not the time to tire,” the Nordic leaders said, amid signs of war fatigue among Kyiv’s foreign supporters.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said her government will unveil a Ukraine support package of almost 1 billion euros ($1.08 billion) this week. Norway announced it will give additional air defenses to Ukraine, taking them from its own stocks to ensure speedy delivery.
Separately, Latvia and Ukraine announced an agreement on the production of drones, a key part of the war. They said they will aim to “enhance Ukraine’s technological superiority” in drone use.
Debris from intercepted missiles fell in Kyiv’s eastern Dniprovskyi district, injuring dozens of people, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Kitschko said on Telegram. Twenty people, including two children, were hospitalized, and 33 people received medical treatment on the spot.
An apartment building, a private house and several cars caught fire, while the windows of a children’s hospital were shattered, Klitschko said. Falling rocket debris also damaged the water supply system in the district.
It wasn’t immediately clear what type of missile was used in the attack.
In other parts of Ukraine, 10 Russian drones were shot down, most of them in the Odesa region, the Ukrainian air force said.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said in a report that Russian forces this year have “continued to use explosive weapons with wide area effects in their attacks on densely populated urban areas of Ukraine … both in areas close to heavy fighting and in cities far from the contact line.”
The governmental organization added in the report published Wednesday that Ukrainian armed forces, though on a much smaller scale, also shelled populated areas of Ukraine that are occupied by Russia, causing civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.
