In a statement released Friday, the Russian army claimed to have carried out these attacks “in response” to a Ukrainian strike on Russia with Western missiles.
Kyiv once again awakened by bombs. This Friday, December 20, several Russian missiles struck the Ukrainian capital around 7 a.m. local time. “According to initial information, one person was killed”the head of the city’s military administration, Sergiy Popko, said on Telegram. For his part, the city’s mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that “two people were hospitalized and debris fell in four areas, setting cars and buildings on fire”. The explosions came after warnings from the Ukrainian air force of an imminent ballistic missile attack. “Emergency services work everywhere”added Vitali Klitschko.
In a statement released after the attack, the Russian army said it carried out the attack “in response” to a Ukrainian strike carried out on Wednesday against a Russian factory with Western missiles, a red line for Moscow. The same press release states that the attack was aimed “the Loutch design office”a major defense industrial center in Kyiv “which designs and manufactures Neptune missile systems”.
Putin’s threats
Ukrainian authorities also reported missile attacks on Friday in the southern city of Kherson, where one person was killed and six injured, as well as several other towns and villages. Concrete actions after the threats made by Vladimir Putin during his annual television press conference, Thursday December 19. Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Westerners a “high-tech duel of the 21st century” between the Russian missile “Orechnik” and their anti-aircraft defense means.
In the east of the country, Russian forces are advancing in the Kharkiv region, bordering Russia, with the aim of reconquering the city of Kupiansk. It was occupied by the Russian army at the start of its invasion in February 2022, then liberated by Ukrainian forces during a dazzling counter-offensive in September of the same year. The Oskil River, which flows through Koupisank, has become the de facto front line between Russian and Ukrainian troops. The Russian army, which has been advancing more rapidly in recent months in eastern Ukraine, has increased its attacks in this area, which it has been trying to recapture for months, in particular trying to cross the river again.
