At least 10 people were reported injured when Russian missiles rained down on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. A day earlier, five people died when the country’s second largest city Kharkiv was hit in a Russian missile strike that targeted an industrial area.
But the attack on Kyiv, the first in 44 days, is seen as the most serious with Ukrainian air defences claiming to have downed no less than 31 Russian missiles. These were reported to be a mix of cruise missiles and ballistic missiles forcing authorities to evacuate dozens of people to safer places.
Various reports suggested the Russian attack could have been retaliation to Ukrainians targeting the Belgorod region that runs for over 500-km along the common border. Belgorod was the staging ground for the Russian invasion of Ukraine three years ago and the provincial capital is only 40-km from the border, bringing it within easy range of Ukrainian artillery.
The Ukrainians have repeatedly crossed over to strike at Russian military positions or to attack hamlets where Russian troops may be based. An attack last December resulted in 25 casualties and undercut President Putin’s promise to his people that the war in Ukraine will not affect their lives.
Meanwhile, European leaders meeting in Brussels are expected to announce stepped up support to Ukraine that could include handing over to Kyiv, billions of euros in interest from confiscated or frozen Russian assets.
EU Council President Charles Michel in a letter ahead of the summit, wrote: “Now that we are facing the biggest security threat since the second world war, it is high time we take radical steps and put the EU’s economy on a war footing.”
The letter appeared intended to prepare the European public about enhanced defence spending that could place financial burdens on them. But the focus for now is on Ukraine with the aim of ensuring “the swift provision of military aid to Ukraine.”
(With inputs from AP)
