Intensified Russian Bombing in Ukraine at Night Diminishes Peace Prospects
Russians rain down fire on Ukraine, dampening peace hopes
Ahoy there! Let's dive into the latest piece of bad news from the East. Overnight, Russia blasted Ukraine with a series of air raids, causing death, injury, and destruction. The attack came just days after Ukraine showcased their pluck by taking action against Russian military airfields deep in Mother Russia.
The bombardment lasted several hours and hit six Ukrainian regions, resulting in at least four fatalities and approximately 50 injuries, according to Ukrainian officials. Among the dead were three emergency responders in Kyiv and a victim pulled from the debris of a northwestern apartment building.
The assault occurred after Donald J. Trump claimed that Putin told him Russia would retaliate against Ukraine's attack on Russian military airfields. It also transpired hours after Trump expressed doubts about American involvement in the peace process, suggesting it might be better to let Russia and Ukraine duke it out for a bit before trying to separate them and broker a truce. His comments marked a stark shift from his regular calls to end the war and bring peace.
Cities across Ukraine have been under constant siege since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Over 12,000 civilians, according to the United Nations, have lost their lives to these relentless attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy put it best: "Russia doesn't change its stripes."
Negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations have been held twice in recent times, though these talks failed to produce any significant breakthroughs, leaving the two factions far apart on their terms for ending the fighting. Ukraine has offered to suspend hostilities for 30 days and arrange a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin to break the deadlock. However, the Kremlin has effectively rejected a truce and remains unmoved by Russia's claimed desire for diplomatic dialogue.
More about Russia's War on Ukraine
- Russian missile and drone attack maims at least 3, causes damage
- Russian strike kills 5 in Ukraine, hours after Trump-Putin call
- Satellite photos reveal destroyed bombers at Russian airbase
- Fox News host Foxworthy declines meeting on military aid to Ukraine for the first time
- Help! Here's how you can aid the people of Ukraine
Upcoming rounds of discussions between Russian and Ukrainian delegations are being planned, as is another prisoner of war exchange.
Homes Become Targets
As per Ukrainian air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat, this attack involved 407 Russian drones and 44 ballistic and cruise missiles. Ukrainian forces claimed to have shot down nearly a third of the cruise missiles and up to 200 of the drones.
The emergency workers who died were responding to the strikes. The Interior Ministry mourned them, stating they were risking their lives to help people in the line of fire.
Russia's Defense Ministry stated they aimed at Ukrainian military targets with "precision long-range weapons" and claimed success in strikes against arms depots, drone factories, and repair facilities, among others. However, as is customary in Russian attacks, the bombardment also hit civilian targets. Associated Press reporters observed explosions across multiple Kyiv districts, with falling drone debris igniting fires.
In Kyiv's Solomyanskyi district, a fire engulfed the 11th floor of a 16-story apartment building, forcing evacuation of three residents. The strike caused a blackout in some areas, leaving over 2,000 households on the eastern bank of Kyiv without power, as city officials reported.
Elsewhere, 10 people were injured in the western city of Ternopil by an aerial attack. The strike damaged industrial and infrastructure facilities, leaving parts of the city without electricity and disrupting water supplies. Russia also targeted western Lviv and Khmelnytskyi regions, the northern Chernihiv region, and the central Poltava region.
Russian Counter-Attacks
In Russia, ten Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight, heading towards Moscow, as per Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. Air traffic at Moscow airports was briefly halted as a precaution. Ukrainian drones also attacked three other regions of Russia, damaging apartment buildings and industrial plants, according to Russian authorities. Three people were reported injured in these attacks.
Ukraine targeted airfields and other military targets in Russia, like fuel storage tanks and transport hubs, the Ukrainian General Staff claimed. A locomotive was derailed early Friday in the Belgorod region after its tracks were blown up, as per Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. Russia has recently accused Ukraine of sabotaging the rail network.
Keep up with the latest news on the Russia-Ukraine conflict at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.
- Amidst the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, the latest general news reports reveal that the ongoing war has escalated further, with Russian missile and drone attacks causing significant damage and casualties in multiple Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and Ternopil.
- In Seattle, discussions on the conflict continue, as political debates around business investments and diplomatic approaches to the war-and-conflicts in Ukraine persist, with concerns about accountability for human rights violations and the desire to curb military aggression.
- Despite the ongoing negotiations and counter-attacks from both sides, there is a pressing need for assistance in the affected regions of Ukraine, with general-news outlets appealing to the public for donations to aid the displaced and suffering victims of the war.
