Ukraine has been hit by more than 530 missile and aerial strikes from Russian forces in the past week, according to Pavlo Kovalchuk, spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Kovalchuk elaborated that Russia launched over 100 missile strikes and 430 aerial raids. In addition, Russian forces fired from multiple rocket launching systems around 340 times at Ukrainian positions and settlements. “The threat of Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory remains high,” Kovalchuk warned.
The spokesperson also pointed out the massive scale of Russian missile and aerial attacks, integrated with drone assaults, specifically using the “Shahed” drone model. These tactics are aimed at exhausting Ukrainian aerial defense systems.
The Ukrainian news agency, Ukrinform, highlighted that, in the last 24 hours, Ukrainian air defense units successfully intercepted 11 Russian Kalibr-type cruise missiles and downed 19 drones.
In a related context, the Ukrainian Navy released a statement this morning indicating the current deployment of seven Russian ships in the Black Sea on combat missions. Among them are two cruise missile carriers of the Kalibr type, equipped with up to 12 missiles each. The naval forces also pointed out the presence of a hostile ship in the Azov Sea and the Mediterranean, noting there are no missile carriers among them.
In Donetsk, the acting head of the regional military administration, Ihor Moroz, reported that Russian shelling in the region resulted in the death of two civilians in the last 24 hours. He further elaborated that the casualties occurred specifically in Zarychny and that investigations are ongoing regarding victims in Mariupol and Volnovakha.
In the region of Kherson, Oleksandr Brokodin, head of the regional military administration, stated that the Russian forces attacked the area 87 times, launching a staggering 497 shells. This intense shelling resulted in two fatalities and 11 injuries.
Brokodin pointed out that Russian forces utilized mortars, artillery, drones, tanks, aircraft, multiple rocket launch systems, and Grad rockets. These attacks have been focused on residential areas, hitting vital infrastructural facilities, health and educational centers, a church, and factories in the Kherson region.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been intensifying, with both nations being former Soviet republics. The recent escalations, including the missile and aerial strikes, have been a cause of major concern for the international community.
Donetsk and Kherson, two of Ukraine’s regions, have been particularly affected, witnessing heavy shelling and numerous civilian casualties.
Amidst the turmoil, Ukraine’s armed forces are persistently trying to defend their territories, intercepting missile strikes and downing hostile drones. The situation remains volatile, with a pressing need for a diplomatic solution to prevent further escalation and loss.
