Ukraine-Russia War: ’Massive’ aerial barrage as Russia stages for ground offensive
Russia launched a missile barrage as Vladimir Putin staged almost 2,000 tanks and 500,000 troops for a new ground offensive, Ukraine warned.
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Ukraine said Russia launched “massive” missile and drone attacks amid the start of a new ground offensive.
“The enemy struck cities and critical infrastructure facilities,” the air force said, adding that seven Iranian-made explosive drones were launched from the Sea of Azov and six Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea.
“Sixty-one out of 71 enemy missiles (have been) destroyed,” it added.
Russia also carried out a “massive” attack with “up to 35 anti-aircraft guided missiles” targeting the Kharkiv region in the east and the southern Zaporizhzhia region, it said.
It comes as Russia amassed about 1,800 tanks, 700 aircraft and 500,000 men for a new assault on Ukraine ‘which will start in just 10 days’, according to Ukraine intelligence.
Ukraine’s army chief Valery Zaluzhny said two Russian missiles crossed the airspace of ex-Soviet Moldova and NATO member Romania on their way to Ukraine.
Romania’s defence ministry said it detected an “aerial target launched from the Black Sea from a ship of the Russian Federation” but “at no point did it intersect with Romania’s airspace”.
The Moldovan defence ministry said it detected a missile, confirming it “crossed the airspace of Moldova.” Moldova, which has already seen debris of Russian missiles during the war, said it would summon Russia’s ambassador over the incident.
For several months, Russia has been systematically targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leading to power shortages that left millions in the cold and dark in the middle of winter.
Ukraine’s energy operator Ukrenergo, said “several high voltage facilities” were affected in the east, west and south of Ukraine, leading to power outages in some areas.
Russia also targeted “power plants and transmission system facilities,” Ukrenergo said, adding that emergency power cuts have been put into place.
In Kharkiv, “critical and infrastructure facilities were targeted” resulting in fires that were “quickly” put out, governor Oleg Sinegubov said.
He said nobody was wounded but some parts of the city were without power. “Energy and industrial infrastructure” suffered damage in Zaporizhzhia, leaving sections of the city without electricity, local official Anatoly Kurtev said.
Kurtev said 17 strikes were recorded over the course of an hour, “the largest number” since the invasion.
Russia last targeted Ukraine with a mass strike in late January, days after Western allies agreed to deliver heavy tanks to Kyiv after long deliberations.
Friday’s wave of attacks follows Zelensky’s visit to Europe, where he urged allies to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles and fighter jets as Kyiv braces for a renewed Russian offensive in the east.
PUTIN’S CHILLING THREAT TO THE WEST
Vladimir Putin has vowed a “response” with “military-political consequences” if the West supplies Ukraine with fighter jets.
Mr Putin’s threat came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a passionate plea for warplanes to British parliament on a surprise barnstorming visit to the UK.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said “nothing is off the table” after the Ukrainian leader made a rousing speech to British politicians, reports The Sun.
Mr Zelenskyy also met with King Charles at Buckingham Palace during his successful visit.
A furious Russia hit back with a chilling warning, in a statement issued through its British embassy.
The “military-political consequences” of what arming Ukraine “will be on the United Kingdom’s hands”, said the Kremlin.
“Russia will know how to respond to any unfriendly actions by the British side.”
Russia also took a swipe at Mr Zelenskyy, calling him “pompous” and “hypocritical”.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said it would be Ukrainians who suffered if Britain or other Western countries supplied fighter jets to Kyiv.
He said “such actions” will “lead to an escalation of tension, prolong the conflict and make the conflict more and more painful for Ukraine”.
The Ukrainian leader’s plea for weapons comes amid mounting concern a renewed Russian offensive is underway.
Russia has amassed a huge arsenal of 1800 tanks, 3950 armoured vehicles, 2700 artillery systems, 810 multiple-rocket-launch systems, 400 fighter jets, and 300 helicopters, reports Foreign Policy.
“Russia has also begun arming up and digging in for a coming offensive,” it quoted an Ukrainian official as saying.
The Institute for the Study of War has claimed that Russian forces have regained the initiative in Ukraine and have begun their next major offensive in the eastern Luhansk region.
The Ukrainian leader’s plea came in a 20-minute speech to MPs and peers in Parliament’s Westminster Hall.
The speech was attended by former prime ministers, Liz Truss, Theresa May and Boris Johnson.
Mr Zelenskyy even symbolically presented Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle with a helmet from one of his pilots.
Inscribed on it were the words: “We have freedom. Give us wings to protect it.”
“I appeal to you and the world with simple and yet most important words: combat aircraft for Ukraine, wings for freedom,” he said.
To applause from a packed hall, he also referred to the monarch’s own air force training.
“In Britain, the King is an air force pilot and in Ukraine today, every air force pilot is a king.”
Zelensky also recalled a visit to the Churchill War Rooms in October 2020 where he said he now realises how Britain’s wartime leader felt.
“A guide smiled and offered me to sit down on this armchair from which war orders had been given,” he said.
Mr Sunak has now ordered Britain’s Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to examine ways that the UK can provide Ukraine with fighter jets.
The RAF has a limited number of aircraft it could theoretically provide Ukraine, including about 20 older Typhoon jets.
In response, Downing Street said Mr Wallace is investigating what aircraft the UK could potentially offer.
But it emphasised this was “a long-term solution” and that training pilots could take years.
- with AFP and the Sun
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