Russia launches missiles at Ukraine after West’s offer of tanks

• Russia launched 55 air and sea-based missiles on Thursday.
• Ukrainian air force shot down a group of Iranian-made attack drones.
• That Russian forces had fired from the Sea of Azov.

Russia unleashed a barrage of missiles at Ukraine on Thursday, a day after the US and Germany promised to provide tanks to support Kyiv in its fight against the invasion.

According to the mayor of Kyiv, strikes on a structure resulted in one fatality and two injuries.

Additionally, two energy plants in Odesa’s southern region were struck, according to officials.

Russia claimed it viewed the offer of tanks as “direct” Western engagement in the fight, which is why it launched the bombardment.

The commander of the Ukrainian army claimed that Moscow launched 55 air and sea-based missiles on Thursday in a protracted and extensive bombardment.

In addition, 47 of them were shot down, including 20 near Kiev, according to Valery Zaluzhny.

Earlier, the Ukrainian air force claimed to have shot down a group of Iranian-made attack drones that Russian forces had fired from the Sea of Azov in the southern part of the nation.

Officials claimed that non-residential structures in the capital’s southern region were hit, resulting in the deaths of a 55-year-old man and two additional injuries.

The assault carried on Russia’s months-long strategy of attacking Ukraine’s infrastructure. Power plants have been devastated by the bitter winter, leaving millions in the dark.

According to DTEK, the largest private power producer in Ukraine, after the strikes on Thursday, emergency power cuts were implemented in Kyiv and a number of other locations to ease stress on the electrical infrastructure.

Following weeks of international pressure, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz committed to give Ukraine 14 Leopard 2 tanks the day before.

They are frequently regarded as some of the best battle tanks on the market.

It’s anticipated that the big weapons would show up in late March or early April.

Following this announcement, President Joe Biden overturned long-standing Pentagon claims that the US would not send 31 M1 Abrams battle tanks to the Ukrainian theatre.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, applauded the action but begged for the tanks to arrive quickly. He also urged the West to provide fighter jets and long-range missiles.

But according to an adviser to Ukraine’s defense minister, 300 to 400 tanks would be required for them to be a “game-changer.”

“The sooner we defeat Russia on the battlefield using Western weapons, the sooner we will be able to stop this missile terror and restore peace,” Yuriy Sak said.

Sending tanks to Ukraine would significantly improve that nation’s ability to win the conflict, according to Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who was speaking on the same programme.

Additionally, he issued a warning that Russia was preparing a new offensive as news of missile strikes in Ukraine following drone raids the previous night started to spread there.

Also Read

Russia attacks Ukraine’s missile and power facilities

Russian Ministry of Defense says it conducted strikes against Ukraine on Thursday....