Russia attacks Ukraine intensively with missiles – Vienna Online – Politics

Nearly half a dozen explosions – presumably caused by anti-aircraft defense – could be heard in Kyiv on Saturday, a dpa correspondent reported from the center of the capital. Mayor Vitali Klitschko spoke of the devastation. Emergency services and medical staff are on their way.

Russia launched drone and missile attacks on Ukraine on Thursday. On the last day of the year, there was once again a weather warning everywhere. The authorities called on people to seek shelter in bunkers.

Explosions were also reported from the Vinnytsia and Zhytomyr regions in western Ukraine and from the Mykolaiv region in southern Ukraine. According to the deputy head of the presidential office, Kirillo Tymoshenko, the Khmelnytsky region of western Ukraine was attacked by drones. There were two injuries. As a precaution, the power supply was cut off in several areas to minimize damage from power supply collisions.

British military experts had already warned on Saturday morning of new air strikes on Ukraine’s infrastructure at the beginning of the year. According to the daily intelligence update from London, the strikes have so far been carried out at intervals of seven to ten days. “It is almost certain that Russia will continue this pattern of overwhelming Ukrainian air defences,” the statement said. She added that there was a “realistic possibility” that Russia would strike again in the coming days “to break the morale of the Ukrainian people during the New Year period”.

Since mid-October, Russia has carried out eleven major attacks, primarily on objects in the Ukrainian energy system. Due to the massive destruction of the infrastructure, there are power outages in many places, affecting millions of people. The Ukrainian government accuses Russia of “terrorism” with the aim of plunging the country into darkness and cold. Kyiv accused Kremlin President Vladimir Putin of wanting to force people to flee in order to destabilize the situation in the European Union through mass emigration.