Ukrainian authorities have confirmed the loss of 30 lives, with 144 wounded, and an undisclosed number trapped under debris from Russia's relentless onslaught of missiles on Friday.
72-year-old Kyiv resident, Kateryna Ivanina, told the Associated Press she threw herself to the ground when a missile struck. "There was an explosion, then flames," she said. "I covered my head and got down in the street. Then I ran into the subway station." Other cities in the west and south of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, were also hit by the strikes.
It was also revealed by the AP report that in the coastal city of Odesa, a residential building was engulfed in flames after wreckage from a descending drone sparked a fire, as reported by the regional head, Oleh Kiper. The incident resulted in two fatalities, and 15 individuals, including two children, sustained injuries, according to Kiper.
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in a statement obtained by The Guardian, affirmed Russia launched approximately 110 missiles in the attack. "Today, Russia used nearly every type of weapon in its arsenal," he said, "A maternity ward, educational facilities, a shopping mall, multistorey residential buildings and private homes, a commercial storage [facility], and a parking lot [were hit] ... we will surely respond to terrorist strikes. And we will continue to fight for the security of our entire country, every city, and every citizen. Russian terror must and will lose."
For weeks, Ukrainian authorities have raised concerns, warning about Russia's accumulation of missiles, hinting at the possibility of major air attacks on the country's energy infrastructure, similar to the previous winter. The Russian Defence Ministry acknowledged one significant strike on Ukraine since Dec. 23, however, no specific details were disclosed. Reuters reported President Volodymr Zelenskiy in a Telegram messenger saying, "Russia attacked with everything it has in its arsenal... Approximately 110 missiles were fired, most of which were shot down."
Reuters also revealed that according to the air force, they successfully intercepted 87 cruise missiles and 27 drones among a total of 158 aerial "targets" launched by Russia. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov characterized it as the "most extensive air assault in this conflict," featuring the participation of 18 strategic bombers.
In the orchestrated ambush on Ukraine, the air force intercepted most of the ballistic and cruise missiles and drones overnight. These details were provided by Ukraine's military chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi. On Thursday, Zelenskiy expressed gratitude to the U.S. for releasing the final remaining shipment of weapons allocated to Ukraine within the current authorization, amid uncertainty concerning additional aid for his war-stricken country. Congress failed to approve $50 billion in new security aid for Ukraine as negotiators were unable to reach an agreement, with Republicans demanding a domestic border crackdown.
President Joe Biden said the bombardment showed that Russian President Vladimir Putin "must be stopped," and the American people can be proud of the lives we have helped to save and the support we have given Ukraine as it defends its people, its freedom, and its independence."
