KYIV, Ukraine – Amid a day of mourning for the previous day’s attack that killed four civilians at a hotel, a Russian missile struck into Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s home city of Kryvyi Rih. Local authorities reported that the latest attack resulted in eight people being wounded, hitting civilian infrastructure in the city.
The recent spate of attacks on Kryvyi Rih comes as Russia intensified its aerial assaults on Ukraine, launching more than 100 missiles and a similar number of drones in what has been described as the biggest onslaught in weeks. This escalation coincides with a critical period of the war since Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.
As Russian forces push further into Ukraine’s partly occupied eastern Donetsk region, capturing the Donetsk region remains a key goal for the Kremlin. The city of Pokrovsk, a significant logistics hub for Ukrainian defense in the area, is currently at risk of falling into Russian hands. In response, Ukraine has deployed forces into Russia’s Kursk region, marking the largest incursion onto Russian soil since World War II as part of an effort to divert Russian troops away from Donetsk.
Rescuers in Kryvyi Rih discovered the final body under the rubble at the targeted hotel, marking the conclusion of the search and rescue operation. Concurrently, Ukraine reported that its anti-aircraft defenses successfully downed a Russian Su-25 jet in the Donetsk region. Additionally, Ukraine continued its long-range drone attacks on Russia’s rear logistical areas.
A Ukrainian security official revealed that an operation by the country’s military intelligence agency targeted oil depots in Russia’s Rostov and Kirov regions. While specific details were not provided, this marked the first known Ukrainian attack on the Kirov region, located about 950 kilometers northeast of the Ukrainian border. Despite three Ukrainian drones falling near an oil depot in Kirov, no damage was reported by the governor of the region, Alexander Sokolov.
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to evolve rapidly, with each side engaging in strategic maneuvers and counterattacks to gain the upper hand. Stay updated on the latest developments in the war by following the coverage of the situation in Ukraine.