Ukraine reported on Tuesday that its air defence systems successfully intercepted and downed five missiles and 60 attack drones during a second night of Russian aerial bombardments, resulting in four fatalities. The attacks occurred following a significant aerial assault by Russia the previous day, which caused damage to energy facilities and casualties. The Ukrainian air force disclosed on social media that Russia launched a total of 91 projectiles, consisting of 10 missiles and 81 Iranian-designed attack drones from various regions within Russia.
Despite the effectiveness of the air defence systems, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the loss of four lives and injuries to 16 individuals in a social media post. Zelensky mentioned ongoing rescue operations at the impact sites and emphasized that a response to the attacks would be forthcoming. He condemned the actions as “crimes against humanity” and stressed that those responsible would face consequences.
Throughout the night, air raid sirens and explosions, likely from air defence activities, were heard in the capital city of Kyiv by AFP journalists. Since the invasion in February 2022, Russia has conducted numerous large-scale drone and missile assaults on Ukraine, targeting critical infrastructure such as energy facilities.
Reports from local authorities indicated that two individuals were killed in the Zaporizhzhia region and two in Kryvyi Rig due to a missile strike on a hotel. This incident occurred shortly after a missile hit a hotel in Kramatorsk, resulting in the death of a safety advisor working with a team from Reuters news agency.
The situation remains tense as Ukraine continues to face relentless attacks, prompting international concern and calls for accountability.