Global Courant 2023-05-18 16:47:12
Russia fired 30 cruise missiles at various parts of Ukraine early Thursday in the latest nighttime test of Ukraine’s air defenses, shooting down 29, officials said.
One person was killed and two injured by a Russian missile that penetrated and hit an industrial building in the southern region of Odessa, said Serhiy Bratchuk, a spokesman for the region’s military administration.
Loud explosions were heard in Kiev as Kremlin forces attacked the capital for the ninth time this month in a clear escalation after weeks of silence and anticipating a long-awaited Ukrainian counter-offensive using newly delivered advanced Western weapons.
Debris fell on two districts of Kiev and caused a fire in a garage complex. Serhiy Popko, head of Kiev’s military administration, said in a Telegram message that nothing is immediately known about any casualties.
The debris of a shot down rocket was seen on Thursday at a damaged garage in Kiev. (Reuters)
Ukraine also shot down two Russian exploding drones and two reconnaissance drones, according to authorities.
The Ukraine-wide bombing included six Russian Kinzhal aero-ballistic hypersonic missiles — the most fired in a single strike in the war so far, according to Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat.
The missiles were launched from Russian naval, air and ground bases, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the Ukrainian commander-in-chief, wrote on Telegram.
Between 9 p.m. Wednesday and 5:30 a.m. Thursday, several waves of missiles targeted parts of Ukraine, he said.
Russian forces used strategic bombers from the Caspian region and apparently fired X-101 and X-55 missiles developed during the Soviet era, Kiev authorities said. Russia then deployed reconnaissance drones over the capital.
Missiles were also shot down earlier this week
In the last major airstrike on Kiev on Tuesday, Ukrainian air defenses backed by advanced Western systems shot down all incoming missiles, officials said.
The attack used hypersonic missiles, which have been repeatedly touted by Russian President Vladimir Putin as a key strategic advantage. The missiles, which are among the most advanced weapons in Russia’s arsenal, are difficult to detect and intercept due to their hypersonic speed and maneuverability.
But advanced Western air defense systems, including US Patriot missiles, have helped save Kiev from the kind of destruction seen along the country’s main frontline in the east and south.
While the ground fighting along that front line is largely deadlocked, both sides are targeting each other’s territory with long-range weapons.
Meanwhile, Kremlin-installed authorities in occupied Crimea reported the derailment of eight train carriages due to an explosion on Thursday.
Investigators were seen near derailed grain train wagons near Simferopol in Crimea on Thursday. The Crimean Railway reports that the derailment was caused by ‘interference by unauthorized persons’ and that there were no casualties. (The associated press)
Russian state media reported that the train was carrying grain.
According to an emergency services source, state news agency RIA Novosti said the incident took place not far from the city of Simferopol. The Crimean Railway reported that the derailment was caused by “the interference of unauthorized persons” and that there were no casualties.
Russia-installed Chief of Crimea Sergei Aksyonov said train services have been suspended on the affected section of the line.
Two people were also injured in a drone strike in Russia’s southern Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, the regional governor reported Thursday.
In a Telegram message, Roman Starovoit claimed that Ukrainian forces dropped an explosive device from a drone on a sports and recreation complex.
