Ukraine: Moscow launches massive missile and drone strike. Kiev: “We will respond”

Moscow has launched its first massive strike on Ukraine since Kiev launched its surprise offensive in the Kursk region. The Russian Defense Ministry said it targeted energy infrastructure “supporting the functioning of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex” in nine regions, including Odessa and Kiev. “All targets were hit,” Mosca added. In the capital, children and families once again took refuge in metro stations. There were five casualties among Ukrainian civilians, with dozens injured. “Russia attacked using more than 100 missiles and about 100 Shahed drones,” Volodymyr Zelensky said. The Kiev leader once again appealed to the West for help. “Putin is a sick creature and this has been clear to everyone for some time,” he said. “We cannot have restrictions on weapons when Russia uses its own weapons of all types, and Iranian Shahed drones and North Korean ballistic weapons,” he said. “Each of our partners knows that strong decisions are needed.” However, Kiev made it known that the response to the Russian attack “against peaceful peoples” is “being prepared” and will be carried out “with weapons of our own production”.

The reference is to the ‘Palianytsia’ drone missile. “This will change the cards on the table because we will be able to strike where Russia does not expect today,” explained Ukrainian Technology Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Without going into details, the project manager said that development began at the end of 2022 and that it is a “completely new” military program and not an improvement of old Soviet weapons. Fedorov added that the cost of each missile is less than $1 million and that the military is turning to the private sector to further reduce production costs, as it “generates incredibly fast solutions.” As for the offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, according to Moscow, Ukraine lost about 6,200 soldiers in an operation that, reiterated Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, “cannot be left without an adequate response.” Finally, Poland, at the same hours that Russia was carrying out its attack, reported the entry of an aerial object into its territorial space. It was most likely a drone, as Warsaw has ruled out the possibility of a ballistic missile from the outset. However, NATO remains on alert.