Russia Intensifies Air Strikes on Ukraine, Causing Fatalities and Disruptions

Tuesday 27 August 2024 - 10:30

Russian forces have escalated their assault on Ukraine, launching a fresh wave of deadly air strikes that have claimed more lives and caused significant disruption across the country. The latest attacks come just a day after a massive strike on Ukraine’s energy grid, which resulted in widespread blackouts and water outages.

In the early hours of Tuesday, Ukrainian air raid alerts were triggered nationwide as Russian bombers took to the skies once again. Ukraine’s air force confirmed the departure of several Tu-95MS bombers from the Engels airfield in western Russia.

The central city of Kryvyi Rih was among the hardest hit, with a strike on a hotel killing two people and injuring five others, according to emergency services. Another attack on the nearby city of Zaporizhzhia left two more dead and four injured. Kyiv also faced multiple rounds of missile and drone strikes, prompting the region’s air defense systems to engage repeatedly throughout the night.

Governor Serhiy Lisak of the Dnipropetrovsk region, where Kryvyi Rih is located, reported that two civilians might still be trapped under the rubble of the hotel. The strike also damaged several shops, high-rise buildings, and vehicles.

The latest assault follows Monday’s barrage of hundreds of drones and missiles, which killed at least seven people and further debilitated Ukraine’s already strained energy infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as one of Russia’s largest to date, involving at least 127 missiles and 109 drones. Ukrainian forces managed to shoot down the majority, with 102 missiles and 99 drones intercepted, according to Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk.

International condemnation swiftly followed. U.S. President Joe Biden labeled the attacks as “outrageous,” while British Foreign Secretary David Lammy called them “cowardly.” Germany’s foreign ministry denounced the strikes as another instance of Russia targeting Ukraine’s vital infrastructure.

The assaults have prompted Ukraine to call for greater support from European air forces. President Zelensky urged European nations to collaborate with Ukraine’s F-16s and air defenses to better protect civilians from these relentless attacks.

Meanwhile, Poland reported a potential violation of its airspace during Monday’s strikes, likely by a drone. The incident is under investigation, with the Polish military confirming the object’s presence via multiple radar stations.

The intensification of Russian strikes underscores the continuing severity of the conflict, which has seen repeated large-scale attacks on Ukraine since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022. The Kremlin, however, has denied clarity on the specific targeting decisions of these strikes.

The violence has also claimed the life of Reuters safety adviser Ryan Evans, who was killed in a missile strike on a hotel in eastern Ukraine over the weekend. Several other Reuters crew members were injured or critically wounded in the attack.

As the conflict drags on, Ukraine faces mounting challenges in defending its territory and protecting its citizens from ongoing Russian aggression.