More than fifty people were injured in an overnight rocket attack on Kiev on Wednesday, the highest death toll in months and a new example of Russia's growing military pressure while Ukraine is on the defensive and in need of military help. West.
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Anti-aircraft forces shot down the 10 ballistic missiles fired at Kiev around 3 a.m. (1 a.m. GMT), but the debris fell on populated areas, including a children's hospital. No deaths have been reported and the hospital center remains operational.
On the other hand, 53 people were injured across the city, 20 of whom were hospitalized, including two children, according to the Ministry of Health. It had been months since Kiev had recorded such a record.
The attack was probably launched with 48N6 missiles from an S-400 system, said the head of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian media, only the Patriot and SAMP/T anti-aircraft systems are capable of destroying ballistic missiles. However, there are only four systems of this type in Ukraine.
In addition, ten Russian Shahed drones were launched from Odessa, the large southern port, and also shot down.
Since the fall, Russia has increased its air and ground attacks in hopes of gaining ground after Ukrainian forces failed in their major summer counteroffensive and depleted some of their human and ammunition reserves.
Putin is confident
Moscow also wants to strike hard at a time when the West's ability to support Ukraine appears to be weakening after two years of war.
President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the United States on Tuesday was an example of this, as Republicans blocked any further aid as part of a standoff with Joe Biden.
Eager to secure resources to continue fighting the Russian invasion in 2024, the Ukrainian leader continued his international trip on Wednesday.
He is in Oslo to meet the leaders of the five Nordic countries, allies and donors.
Mr. Zelensky condemned the overnight attack on his capital and sought to show confidence in American help by ensuring he worked with Mr. Biden “to increase anti-aircraft resources.”
The American president warned his political opponents in the US that stopping aid to Ukraine would mean victory for Vladimir Putin.
The latter is counting on a decline in Western support for Ukraine and has completely converted its industry to arms production. He appears increasingly confident as the Kremlin describes American aid to Kiev as a “fiasco.”
“We must, we must prove (Putin) wrong,” the American president insisted, attacking elected Republicans who are demanding immigration concessions to release the $61 billion planned for Kiev.
In Avdiivka 51 attacks
Aware that a failure by the United States would undermine the support of his country's other allies, Volodymyr Zelensky said it was “very important to send a very strong signal of unity to the aggressor before the end of the year.”
In Europe, several leaders have made clear their unwavering support for the Ukrainian cause, including new Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Tuesday and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday.
In Kiev, AFP journalists heard several explosions around 3 a.m. local time. Anti-aircraft alarms immediately sounded.
This is the second attack on Kiev in a week. According to Kiev, eight Russian missiles flying towards the capital were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses early on Monday. Four people were treated by emergency services.
Russian forces are also increasing their attacks on the approximately 1,000 kilometer long front, in the east and south.
The city of Avdiivka in particular has been the subject of a Russian offensive since October, carried out by waves of people and armored vehicles. According to the Ukrainian army's daily morning report, “51 enemy attacks (y) were repelled.”
The Ukrainians also say they are repelling attacks in the area of Robotyne in the south, a village that Kiev forces captured this summer, raising hopes of a breakthrough that have been dashed.
Russian attacks also targeted the northeast, in the Kupiansk and Lyman regions.