Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with a sophisticated combination of missiles and drones on Wednesday for the first time in 73 days, authorities reported.
Air raid alerts sounded for hours as Russia targeted eight regions of Ukraine, firing six ballistic and cruise missiles and 90 drones, Ukraine’s air force reported.
Its air defenses shot down four missiles and 37 drones, while another 47 drones were stopped by electronic jamming. The damage is currently being assessed.
The airstrike came as most of the more than 10,000 troops sent by North Korea to help Russia in the war are engaged in fighting in Russia’s Kursk border region, according to the United States. A Ukrainian army incursion into Kursk three months ago embarrassed the Kremlin.
The Russian military trained North Korean soldiers in artillery, drone use and basic infantry operations, including trench clearing, Pentagon deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said Tuesday. , during an information session.
Cooperation between Russian and North Korean soldiers faces challenges, according to the Pentagon, including how to achieve military interoperability and overcome the language barrier.
Kyiv estimates that Russia has deployed around 50,000 troops to Kursk to try to dislodge the Ukrainians.
Russia has been gathering forces in recent months to carry out a counter-offensive at Kursk, according to the Institute for the Study of War think tank, although the timetable for the operation is not known.
Russia’s plans in Kursk and Ukraine’s efforts to contain a Russian attack in the Donetsk region coincide with political uncertainty over how a U.S. administration under Donald Trump will change Washington’s policy on the war.
US military aid is vital to Ukraine, but Mr Trump has signaled he does not want to continue giving tens of billions of dollars to Kyiv.
President Joe Biden intends to step up US military support for Ukraine in the final months of his term, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
“We will continue to strengthen everything we do for Ukraine to ensure that it can defend itself effectively against this Russian aggression,” Blinken assured during a press scrum at NATO headquarters.
Mr. Blinken warned that North Korea’s decision to send its troops into combat operations alongside Russian forces “demands and will receive a strong response.” He did not give further details.
