Russia Launches Third Large-Scale Bombardment of Ukraine in a Week

Strategic Insights -

Russia's assault on Ukraine, comprising intense fighting in the east and a third large-scale bombardment in a week, raised concerns about the future of education in the war-torn country. Amidst the ongoing aggression, Ukraine's military administrator in Kyiv, Serhiy Popko, stated that the attack stood out for the number of ballistic missiles fired at the city. Despite the explosions, schools in Kyiv opened as scheduled, with students and teachers resuming classes despite the risks. The attack came amid a rising tempo in the war, with Russian troops attacking 63 times in the past 24 hours near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk.

Key Takeaways:

  • The attack was the third large-scale bombardment in a week, with explosions ringing out in Kyiv and several other cities.
  • Russia fired 58 missiles and one-way attack drones, with nine ballistic missiles shot down by Ukraine's Air Force.
  • The attack posed a significant risk to education in Ukraine, with schools forced to provide bomb shelters for students or operate online.
  • The bombardment came amid a rising tempo in the war, with Russian troops attacking 63 times in the past 24 hours near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk.
  • Ukrainian officials have appealed to allies to allow the use of long-range weapons provided by the West to strike back at targets in Russia.
  • Ukraine's military is stepping up strikes with domestically produced drones, with fires at refineries and power plants suggesting that at least some had gotten through.

Statistics:

  • 58 missiles and one-way attack drones fired by Russia
  • 9 ballistic missiles shot down by Ukraine's Air Force
  • 63 attacks by Russian troops in the past 24 hours near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk
  • 780 guided aerial bombs fired by Russia in the past week
  • 400 attack drones fired by Russia in the past week
  • 10 cruise missiles fired by Russia in addition to ballistic missiles
  • 2 people wounded in Kyiv due to debris from intercepts by antiaircraft missiles
  • 4 cars set on fire by debris from intercepts by antiaircraft missiles
  • 4 commercial buildings damaged by debris from intercepts by antiaircraft missiles

Sources:

  • The New York Times, "Russia Launches Third Large-Scale Bombardment of Ukraine in a Week"
  • Serhiy Popko, military administrator in Kyiv, statement on social media
  • Vitali Klitschko, mayor of Kyiv, statement on the aftermath of the attack
  • Regional prosecutors in Kharkiv, statement on the recovery of wreckage from a North Korean missile
  • President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, statement on the number of missiles fired by Russia in the past week
  • Maria Varenikova, Natalia Novosyolova, and Anna Lukinova, reporting contributions to The New York Times