Russian airstrikes resulted in the deaths of 12 individuals and multiple injuries in Kyiv and its vicinity early Tuesday, marking the sixth consecutive day of attacks on the Ukrainian capital. The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022 has led to an increase in air assaults on Ukraine in recent months, particularly as Russian advancements on the battlefield have significantly slowed.
In the past five days, Kyiv and nearby areas have been plagued by swarms of drones, causing casualties, destruction of homes, and warehouses. These drones, equipped with jet engines, are more challenging to intercept, disrupting the daily lives of millions with prolonged air-raid alerts.
Additional explosions were reported in the capital on Tuesday morning. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha highlighted that Russian drones and ballistic missiles targeted residential areas and railway infrastructure during the intense overnight attacks. He urged Ukraine’s allies to intensify economic pressure on Russia and consider utilizing Russia’s frozen foreign assets to support Ukraine’s war efforts.
The ongoing assaults in Kyiv resulted in the deaths of eight individuals and triggered fires across various locations, as confirmed by emergency services. Furthermore, Russian ballistic missile strikes on a railway depot and other railway facilities claimed the lives of six employees. In Boryspil, outside Kyiv, four individuals lost their lives, and 13 others sustained injuries in an attack that damaged a residential building and other sites, according to Governor Tymur Tkachenko.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that an Indian citizen was among the casualties and described the barrage as involving a significant number of jet-powered drones and ballistic missiles. Despite downing five ballistic missiles, Ukraine’s air force faces a scarcity of U.S.-made Patriot interceptors critical for countering Russia’s ballistic missiles.
In a wider scope, the Russian strikes extended to the Black Sea region of Odesa, targeting a border crossing with NATO-member Romania and disrupting Ukraine’s vital agricultural exports. The attacks left thousands without electricity, exacerbating the crisis. Estonia reported an incident where drones used in a Ukrainian strike against Russia briefly entered Estonian airspace, emphasizing the importance of supporting Ukraine with air defense capabilities.
Amid escalating tensions, peace talks have stalled, with Ukraine rejecting Russian territorial demands, and the U.S. focusing on other international conflicts. Efforts to end the conflict have garnered support from various world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who emphasized the necessity of halting the war for the greater good of humanity, receiving a positive response from Russian President Vladimir Putin.