Terror in the Air: Two Days of Mass Drone & Missile Strikes on Kyiv and Odessa, Ukraine
Airstrikes of significant scale hit Kiev and Odessa, as per reports from Ukraine.
The unrelenting predator that is war reared its menacing head once more over Ukraine, as Russia unleashed a relentless aerial onslaught on Monday. The assault, the largest drone attack since the commencement of the war, has left its mark on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and the strategic seaport city of Odessa.
Russia launched a decisive drone attack on Kyiv early Monday, according to Ukrainian sources. Simultaneously, enemy drones stalked several districts of the city, reported Timur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv military administration via Telegram. "[Damages to residential buildings and fires] are causing concern. Rescue services are on the scene," Tkachenko stated, as emergency services were called to four Kyiv districts around midnight, per Mayor Vitali Klitschko's update on Telegram.
A bewildering cacophony of anti-aircraft fire echoed over the capital, as a reporter confirmed. Ukraine's air force reported ballistic missiles were also used. The RBK-Ukraine news agency reported explosions in the city. In total, the military administration confirmed damages in six of the city's ten districts with at least one woman sustaining injuries. The "Kyiv Independent" online portal also reported injuries, burning vehicles, and building fires, citing government sources.
In a chilling echo of the early hours of Monday, at least one person was tragically killed and an additional three injured in a horrific drone attack on the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa, according to Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov. A 59-year-old man was among the deceased, with regional governor Oleh Kiper. Kiper further revealed that a maternity ward, a medical emergency room, and residential buildings were targeted in the UNESCO World Heritage city. Remarkably, there were no injuries at the maternity ward, and patients and staff were safely evacuated, Kiper reported.
The attacks are ongoing, with Ukraine's military urging the population to seek shelter. Klitschko also warned of a "massive attack on the capital" and asked Kyiv's residents to remain in their shelters. These attacks come just a week after ceasefire talks in Istanbul. Unfortunately, all efforts towards a temporary ceasefire in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which surpasses three years, have thus far proven futile.
Additional Insights:
- The attacks involved over 315 Iranian-made Shahed drones and seven missiles, including two North Korean-made ballistic missiles 1.
- At least three people were killed in the attacks, with four injured in Odessa and one injured in Kyiv 1.
- Residential buildings were damaged, and fires ignited during the strikes. A hospital in Odessa was allegedly targeted 1.
- Ukrainian defenses intercepted several incoming threats, with thick smoke seen over Kyiv 1.
- Explosions continued for hours in Kyiv as terrified residents sought refuge in metro stations 1.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Moscow for escalating violence despite global peace efforts 1.
In light of the escalating drone and missile attacks on Kyiv and Odessa, the Commission might be asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation due to increased war-and-conflicts. These political events in Ukraine, alongside general-news content, serve as a reminder of the pressing need for international discussions on peace and security.
