Russia launched its fifth missile attack on Kiev this month, according to Ukraine’s military.
Preliminary reports indicate that air defense systems effectively intercepted the missiles, preventing damage and injuries. This missile barrage followed a drone attack on Kiev late Monday night, with initial information suggesting no harm was done by either assault, as reported by Kiev’s military administration via Telegram.
The full extent of Tuesday morning’s strikes remains unclear, but the military believes they likely involved cruise missiles. Reuters witnesses reported hearing explosions early Tuesday, possibly from air defense operations on Kiev’s outskirts.
This month alone, Kiev has experienced 41 air raid alerts. On Monday, Ukraine successfully thwarted another Russian drone attack on the capital. There was no immediate response from Moscow regarding Tuesday’s missile strikes. Both Russia and Ukraine claim their attacks target military facilities rather than civilian infrastructure.
In a related development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on international allies to lift restrictions on long-range weapons, which he believes could halt the Russian advance on the front lines.
Zelenskyy argued that the key to stopping the Russian military’s progress lies in obtaining long-range capabilities, and he criticized Moscow’s threats of retaliation as bluffs.
Zelenskyy also reported that Ukrainian forces now control over 1,250 square kilometers (483 square miles) and 92 settlements in Russia’s Kursk region. Ukraine’s surprise strike on August 6 was described as the largest incursion into Russia since World War II, aimed at creating a buffer zone and depleting Russian military resources.
Despite these efforts, Ukraine remains on the defensive in other areas, particularly in the strategic eastern city of Pokrovsk, where Russia has made significant advances in recent weeks.
Ukraine’s army reported engaging in 63 skirmishes on the Pokrovsk front on Monday and anticipates continued heavy fighting in the region.
