Russia fires missile barrage at Ukraine as temperatures plunge
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Russian military jets fired Kinzhal ballistic missiles and cruise missiles at targets across Ukraine.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
KYIV - Ukraine suffered its third large-scale aerial barrage of the new year, with the escalation of attacks from Kremlin forces coming at a time harsh weather leaves millions vulnerable to power outages.
Russian military jets fired Kinzhal ballistic missiles and cruise missiles at targets across the country early on Jan 13, Ukrainian Air Force command said on Telegram. Forty missiles and drones were launched nationwide.
Explosions were heard in the northern region of Chernihiv, the western areas of Khmelnytskyi, Ivano-Frankivsk and Rivne, and in the Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava regions in central Ukraine as air defence was working, according to the local authorities.
After months of relatively few air strikes, Russia ramped up its bombardment campaign just before 2024. Since then, it has fired hundreds of missiles at cities across Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv, killing more than 45 and wounding dozens of civilians
The air campaign coincides with the arrival of much colder weather, leaving millions of Ukrainians at risk from the loss of heat and electricity if the power infrastructure is damaged. Temperatures were around minus 13 deg C in central Ukraine and as low as minus 18 deg C in the east on Jan 13 morning, according to Weather Centre.
Ukraine’s western neighbour Poland and allies scrambled jets as Moscow launched Saturday’s attack because debris from Russia’s missiles and drones had fallen on the European Union states’ territory on several occasions.
Russia launched the latest strikes hours after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a surprise visit to Kyiv
Mr Sunak and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky also signed a 10-year security cooperation agreement as Kyiv seeks to repel Russian forces who invaded almost two years ago.
Mr Stephane Sejourne, appointed just this week as France’s Foreign Minister as part of a Cabinet reshuffle, is also expected to visit Kyiv this weekend.
Separately, Kyiv said preliminary evidence showed that Moscow’s forces likely used missiles provided by North Korea
South Korea’s defence minister said on Jan 11 that Pyongyang is looking to step up military cooperation with Moscow by sending new types of tactical guided missiles in hopes of securing substantial aid to keep its economy afloat. BLOOMBERG
