Russia conducts extensive missile and drone attack on Ukraine

<p>Fighting between Ukraine and Russia resumed after a 72-hour pause for diplomatic visits to both countries by United States officials.</p> <p>Russia launched an attack on Ukraine on Tuesday, firing dozens of cruise missiles and over 140 drones as the conflict continued following peace talks brokered by U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. The attack began at 3:30 a.m. local time, according to the Kyiv Independent, reportedly filling the city’s skies with smoke from fires resulting from the strikes.</p> <p>The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia fired at least 12 ballistic missiles, 32 cruise missiles, and 166 Shahed-type drones, with half of the drones being jet-powered. Two people died and ten were injured in the attack, according to the Kyiv Independent. Two ballistic missiles, 31 cruise missiles, and 142 drones were intercepted, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. Later, it was reported that Russia also launched strikes on Ukraine’s southern Odesa region.</p> <p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on the attacks in a social media post. He described the attack as “complex” and stated that it was intended to inflict significant damage. He noted that the attack primarily impacted civilian areas, resulting in damage to residential buildings and civilian infrastructure.</p> <p>In a follow-up statement, Zelensky provided details about the aftermath of the strikes, indicating that efforts to address the damage were ongoing. He mentioned that critical infrastructure was struck in the Kyiv region and that an ordinary market was targeted in the Odesa region. He also reported injuries in Kharkiv and damage to an apartment building. Additionally, he noted that a train locomotive was attacked at a railway station in the Sumy region, but no injuries were reported in that incident.</p> <p>Zelensky acknowledged the challenges posed by Russia’s weaponry and called for Ukraine’s allies to provide interceptors to defend against Russian drones and missiles. He stated that Ukrainian forces managed to down 175 aerial targets overnight but emphasized the difficulty in intercepting ballistic missiles. He mentioned ongoing discussions with American and European partners regarding the need for additional interceptors.</p>