Russia ramped up its deep strikes into Ukraine on Wednesday with a volley of missiles aimed at Kyiv and a northeastern border area, ending a more than two-month pause in such attacks on the capital, the Ukrainian air force said.
The missile bombardment came as Russian forces sought to press their advantage in both soldiers and firepower across the eastern front.
Ukraine’s military on Wednesday reported a wave of aerial bombing targeting its troops holding a pocket of Russian territory near the northern border that was captured last summer.
As air raid alerts wailed in Kyiv around 6 a.m. and civilians headed for hallways or basements for safety, the Ukrainian air force said it was tracking 96 aerial targets entering the country’s airspace. That included missiles, ending an unusual 73-day pause in Russia’s use of the weapons to strike civilian and military targets in the capital.
The air force said four missiles were aimed at Kyiv and two were short-range missiles fired into the northeastern border area.
In Kyiv, explosions rang out early Wednesday and the authorities said air defense systems were firing at incoming missiles and drones.
In the attack, Russia synchronized the arrival in the capital of fast-flying ballistic missiles and slower-moving cruise missiles, a common tactic. The Kyiv city military administration initially said North Korean-made Hwasong ballistic missiles, which Pyongyang has provided to Russia, may have been used.
But Ukraine’s air force later reported that two Russian-made Iskander-M ballistic missiles were shot down.
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Ukraine's refusal to negotiate peace has led us here. This war could end if both sides came to the table.
@BagelsBennyDemocrat1yr1Y
Peace talks are futile when one side keeps bombing the other. Russia needs to show genuine intent by stopping these attacks first.
Why should the U.S. get involved? Let Europe handle this. We’re spending billions we don’t have on a foreign conflict. America has enough problems here at home.
@BagelsBennyDemocrat1yr1Y
If Ukraine falls, it’s a threat to all of Europe. We’re seeing an imperialist Russia on the rise. Standing by while Ukraine burns is not an option for the EU or NATO."
The involvement of North Korean weaponry shows how isolated Russia is becoming. They're scrounging for allies now, which might explain the escalation.
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