Moscow unleashes biggest aerial barrage of war on Ukraine

Russia unleashes biggest-ever barrage on Ukraine

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Russia launched 122 missiles and 36 drones against Ukrainian targets on Friday, according to officials. 

At least 22 civilians were killed in the attacks, as of the early afternoon. 

A Ukrainian airforce official said it was the biggest aerial barrage of the 22-month war, involving Iranian-made Sheed drones.

Most of the incoming missiles and drones were shot down – but scores of people were reported injured. An unknown number were buried under the rubble of hit buildings. 

Zelenskyy said the Kremlin’s forces used a wide variety of weapons, including ballistic and cruise missiles.

Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on his official Telegram channel: “The most massive aerial attack” since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the previous biggest assault was in November 2022 when Russia launched 96 missiles against Ukraine. 

The biggest this year was 81 missiles on 9 March, Air Force records show.

The roughly 18-hour onslaught began on Thursday and continued through the night. It hit six cities, including the capital Kyiv, and other areas from east to west Ukraine, according to authorities.

This new wave of strikes shows that the country needs “more help” from the international community, reacted Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

‘Huge’ Russian losses in Ukraine

Russia is suffering “enormous” losses in men and equipment in its war in Ukraine, a senior German army official said in an interview published on Friday.

“According to figures from Western intelligence services, 300,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or so seriously injured that they can no longer be mobilised in the war,” General Christian Freuding told the daily Süddeutsche Zeitung.

Concerning equipment, he added: “We think that they [the Russians] lost a number of tanks and armoured units numbering in the thousands and at the high end of the range.” 

At the same time, “the Russians still manage to recruit personnel, among other things by bringing in detainees” to the front, said the General. 

“We are of course observing massive investments in the arms industry,” he continued. 

Fighting along the front line is largely bogged down by winter weather after Ukraine’s summer counteroffensive failed to make a significant breakthrough.