Russian missiles struck Ukraine’s two largest cities, killing five and injuring over 100, as the conflict approached its two-year mark. Ukrainian officials reported that air defenses successfully downed Russian Kinzhal missiles, which can fly at 10 times the speed of sound, targeting Kyiv and the northeastern Kharkiv region. Confusion surrounded the death toll, with initial reports indicating one fatality in Kharkiv, but later corrections suggested the victim was in a coma. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi claimed air defenses shot down all 10 hypersonic missiles, part of about 100 launched in the most significant Kinzhal attack since the war’s onset.
The missile barrage intensified Russia’s assault on Ukraine, which began with a large-scale attack on Friday, marking the largest single assault since the war began. The conflict has shifted into a phase of grinding attrition along the 1,000-kilometer front line amid winter conditions. The attacks have resulted in at least 41 civilian casualties over the weekend. Notably, a Kyiv apartment building witnessed two fatalities, with survivors seeking refuge in a temporary shelter. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy reported that Russia launched almost 100 missiles in the attacks, claiming that air defense systems, including Western-supplied Patriots and NASAMS, successfully shot down the majority, saving numerous lives.
In response to the strikes, Zelenskyy criticized Russia for claiming to target military facilities while causing civilian casualties. Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that it conducted missile and drone strikes on military-industrial facilities in and around Kyiv, targeting depots storing Western-supplied missiles and munitions. The ongoing conflict, marked by winter bombardment, has entered its third year, with civilians in major cities increasingly affected by the escalation in hostilities.
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