November 18th 2024.
In recent news, we have seen the devastating impact of a recent attack launched by Russia on Ukraine. This attack comes shortly after the announcement that the US would allow Ukraine to use western-made long-range missiles, a decision that was met with immediate hostility from Russia. As a result, firefighters have been tirelessly working in the areas affected by the missile strikes.
One particularly tragic incident occurred in the city of Sumy, northern Ukraine, where a nine-story building was struck, causing the loss of eight innocent lives and injuring numerous others. Rescue teams have been tirelessly searching every apartment in damaged buildings, desperate to locate any remaining survivors.
A map has revealed the extent of Russia's attack, which included a barrage of drones and missiles, ranging from ballistic rockets to combat drones. The Minister of Internal Affairs for Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, expressed his sorrow for the loss of life caused by Russia's actions, stating that "every life destroyed by Russia is a big tragedy."
Not only did the attack target Ukraine's energy infrastructure, but it also caused significant damage to residential buildings. This has raised concerns about Moscow's intentions to further devastate Ukraine's power generation capacity as winter approaches.
Among the weapons used in the attack were X-101/55CM air cruise missiles, which were originally designed in the 1990s but have recently re-entered Russian service. These missiles have an impressive operational range of 3,500km and can reach speeds of up to 950km/hour. Additionally, Russia deployed a variety of UCAVs (unmanned combat aerial vehicles) and Kalibr/Ballistic Rockets with a range of 2,600km. The X-22 anti-ship cruise missile, X-59/69 cruise missile, and various Iranian-made drones were also used.
Interestingly, this attack occurred on the same day that President Joe Biden authorized the use of US-supplied long-range missiles by Ukraine for the first time. This decision was made after intense lobbying by Ukrainian officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that a total of 120 missiles and 90 drones were launched by Russia in this large-scale attack.
As a result of the attack, fragments of weapons were scattered throughout residential areas, causing further destruction and devastation. The Ukrainian defense forces were able to successfully shoot down 144 of the 210 air targets, according to a report from the Ukrainian air force. Sadly, the attack also claimed two more lives in the Odesa region, where energy infrastructure was damaged, leading to power and water supply disruptions.
This attack, which was the most powerful in three months, has escalated the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Serhii Popko, the head of Kyiv's City Military Administration, stated that this attack was a "change in the very nature of the conflict." As tensions continue to rise, it is expected that Ukraine will retaliate with their own long-range missile attack against Russia in the coming days.
In the meantime, residents in Kyiv have sought shelter in the subways, fearing further attacks from Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles means that "NATO countries, the US, European countries, are at war with Russia." He also warned that if this is the case, Russia will take appropriate actions to protect itself.
While the possibility of retaliation from Russia against the West is low, it cannot be entirely dismissed. The question of Europe's preparedness for such a scenario has been a topic of concern, as Putin has threatened to retaliate against the West in the past. An expert on Russia spoke with Metro, shedding light on Europe's readiness for a potential escalation of the conflict.
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