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Russia has launched its biggest missile and drone attack on multiple Ukrainian cities since the start of its full-scale invasion, killing at least 12 people and injuring 76.
In a massive raid on Friday morning against the capital Kyiv, as well as cities in the east, south and west, Russian forces fired 158 missiles and drones, officials said, including Kinzhal (Dagger) ballistic missiles, which are hard to intercept.
Worst hit appeared to be Dnipro, in the east of the country, where five people were killed and a shopping centre was set on fire, according to Serhii Lysak, head of the regional administration. A maternity hospital was also damaged.
General Valeriy Zaluzhny, commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, said that of the 158 missiles and drones launched by Russia, 87 cruise missiles and 27 attack drones were shot down by air defence forces. Military facilities were also targeted.
Lieutenant-General Mykola Oleschuk, head of Ukraine’s air force, said Friday’s strikes amounted to the biggest aerial attack of the war so far.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram: “Today, Russia struck with almost everything it has in its arsenal: Daggers, S-300, cruise missiles, UAVs. Strategic bombers launched Kh-101/Kh-505. About 110 missiles were fired, most of them were shot down. Unfortunately, as a result of the shelling, there are dead and wounded.”
In Kyiv, which is well defended by multiple air defence systems, two people were killed and 17 injured. Four people were rescued from the rubble of a warehouse.
In the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, which has been spared from much of Russia’s bombardment, one person was killed, an apartment block was hit and three schools were damaged.
“We are doing everything to strengthen our air shield,” Andriy Yermak, head of the presidential administration, wrote on Telegram. “But the world needs to see that we need more support and strength to stop this terror.”
Western officials warned recently that Russia had probably been hoarding missiles and drones for a winter campaign of strikes. Attacking with a large number of varied missiles has more chance of overwhelming Ukraine’s western-supplied air defence systems.
Last winter, Russian forces carried out a sustained missile and strike campaign against Ukrainian power and heating plans and grid infrastructure in a bid to disrupt the economy and break Ukrainian morale.
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