Kyiv launched its most intensive assault of the conflict from Monday into Tuesday, executing deep strikes inside Russia with drones and missiles. This operation involved over 40 missiles, including six US-made ATACMS ballistic missiles, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. The authorization for Ukraine to utilize these longer-range American missiles was granted by outgoing US President Joe Biden in November of the previous year.
Moscow perceives the deployment of American longer-range missiles as a major escalation. In response, Russia has warned of retaliatory measures, including the potential use of its intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile known as "Oreshnik." The "Oreshnik" missile was previously fired once on November 21. The exchange of major drone and missile strikes between Ukraine and Russia continues to escalate tensions.
Ukraine's leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, confirmed that the overnight attacks involved more than 40 missiles, with 30 reportedly destroyed. Meanwhile, Russia's ongoing assault on Ukraine's energy infrastructure persists, particularly during the harsh winter months. These strikes have forced Ukraine to implement emergency power outages, severely affecting the country's energy sector.
“Another massive Russian attack. It’s the middle of winter, and the target for the Russians remains the same: our energy sector,” – Volodymyr Zelensky
In the midst of these heightened hostilities, reports have emerged regarding an Australian national captured while fighting for Ukraine. The individual, aged 32, was reportedly captured last month. A video surfaced showing him being questioned while clad in military attire, raising concerns about his fate and potential demise at the hands of Russian forces.
On Wednesday morning, Russia launched its own bombardment on Ukraine, primarily targeting the nation's energy sector. This assault compelled Ukraine's state energy company, Ukrenergo, to temporarily suspend power supplies. The Ukrainian army reported that military and oil facilities were targeted in this latest barrage. They vowed to persist with such attacks until Russian armed aggression ceases entirely.
