Kiev: Russian missile and drone attacks battered the city of Dnipro on Wednesday, leaving two people dead and six injured in one of the largest concentrated attacks of the war in the east of the country so far according to Ukrainian officials. Officials say they detected over 174 incoming Russian drones and ballistic missiles that targeted Ukrainian air defences as well as warehouses and storage facilities for ammunition and critical war supplies.
The attacks are part of an escalation along the entire front line by Russian forces, who have targeted waves of missiles and drones at critical civilian and military infrastructure in major cities such as Odessa and Kyiv in recent days. "Over the past two days, attacks across the country have caused significant casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure including in large urban areas," said UN spokesperson Stephen Dujarric, adding that the strikes are taking a growing toll on civilian life.
Part of the problem is a lack of interceptor and air defence missiles, where Ukraine faces critical shortages. Recently President Volodomyr Zelensky inked a deal with the US to build Patriot missile systems under license in Ukraine, but production will take time to establish. The US war against Iran has drained the US' Terminal High Altitude Air Defence (THAAD) and Patriot missile battery stockpiles, with systems being shifted from east Asia and parts of the middle east to provide greater coverage for the illegal occupation force in Palestine, which the US counts as a high priority ally.
"Russia has grown increasingly reckless. As they continue their terrible war against we have seen more drones and missiles crossing into our airspace along our easter flank, creating increased risk," said Mark Rutte, NATO's secretary general.
This has left Ukraine without the necessary ability to defend its skies, a fact that Russian forces have noted and taken full advantage of in recent months. The conflict between the US and Iran has also taken the spotlight of Ukraine, and pushed it to the sidelines of global awareness. Now in its fifth year, the concern or Ukrainian leaders is that they will be unable to hold back a slow but relentless Russian advance unless more supplies and funds can be made available.
"Europeans are faced with the hard truth that this is the new normal. We have to step up. And that means being ready to respond to Russia's recklessness faster and better. We must treat our everyday infrastructure as frontline targets and protect them accordingly. And we will support any member state Russia targets," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
