Russia’s unrelenting aggression against Ukraine has reached a devastating peak, with recent missile and drone attacks targeting innocent civilians and civilian infrastructure, resulting in the loss of lives and destruction. The chaos and devastation caused by these attacks are evident in the footage captured by closed-circuit TV cameras, showing the destruction of residential areas and the loss of homes and lives. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Russian attacks are being launched with a “bestial savagery” that leaves many without homes or lives.
One such attack occurred on Wednesday, when a missile struck a nine-story apartment building in the city of Zaporizhzhia, killing at least one person and wounding many more. This attack is a stark reminder of the lack of regard for human life shown by Russian forces, who seem to be targeting civilians with impunity. The city of Zaporizhzhia is located near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest, which has been shut down for months due to the ongoing war.
The goal of these attacks, according to the city’s regional administration, is to scare the civilian population, with there being no military facilities nearby. Ukrainian politician Oleksiy Goncharenko described the situation as “hell” in Zaporizhzhia, with the attacks causing chaos and destruction. The attacks have also resulted in the loss of a backup external power source at the nuclear power plant, leaving the reactors relying on a primary source.
Russia’s use of exploding drones has also caused significant damage and loss of life, with seven people being killed in or near a student dormitory near Kyiv. The drones have also damaged a high school and two dormitories in the city of Rzhyshchiv, south of the Ukrainian capital. The drone barrage and other Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure have drawn a scathing response from President Zelensky, who tweeted, “Every time someone tries to hear the word ‘peace’ in Moscow, another order is given there for such criminal strikes.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Via Volodymyr Zelensky/Twitter)
Despite the ongoing attacks, Ukraine remains committed to defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ukrainian air defences have shot down 16 of the 21 drones that Russia launched, with eight being downed near the capital and others striking the west-central province of Khmelnytskyi. President Zelensky has also made visits to the battlefield, meeting soldiers and officers and stopping by a hospital to see wounded troops.
The international community has also condemned Russia’s aggression, with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visiting Kyiv and meeting with President Zelensky in a show of support for Ukraine. Chinese leader Xi Jinping left Moscow after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, although no progress towards peace was reported. Ukraine’s Finance Ministry has also agreed to a 15.6 billion dollar loan package with the International Monetary Fund, aimed at shoring up the country’s economy, which has been severely impacted by the invasion. This deal is hoped to encourage allies to provide financial support to Ukraine.
In other developments, the Russian military has fended off a drone attack on the main harbour in the Black Sea fleet headquarters city of Sevastopol, with the navy destroying three aquatic drones. Ukrainian officials did not claim responsibility for the attack. Additionally, three people were wounded in a Russian missile attack on a monastery in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa on Tuesday night.
The situation in Ukraine remains dire, with the country facing a humanitarian crisis and economic devastation due to Russia’s ongoing aggression. The international community must continue to condemn Russia’s actions and provide support to Ukraine, as the country fights to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
