In the latest installment of 'Russia's Ongoing Guided Tour of Ukrainian Infrastructure,' at least 13 people were killed and 40 injured in strikes on Kyiv, as Ukraine's air defence missile stockpile continues to be as depleted as a politician's campaign promise. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (DSNS) reported that apartment blocks, warehouses, a children's hospital, and a school were all hit overnight - because why not add 'war crimes' to the itinerary? The Russian defence ministry, showcasing their usual flair for understatement, said they used air, land, and sea-based weapons to target 'military facilities and warehouses,' which apparently now include residential buildings and pediatric wards.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a Telegram post that could double as a fundraising pitch, blamed the deaths on the shortage of air defence missiles, noting that 'as long as Ukraine does not have enough anti-ballistics, Russia will not seriously think about peace.' He added, 'The interceptors for the Patriots have not yet been replaced, and they are needed every day. Each additional missile saves the lives of our people.' Indeed, the US has been doling out Patriot interceptors like a miser at a slot machine, having diverted much of its stockpile to the Middle East. The Ukrainian Air Force's Thursday morning update implied that none of the Russian ballistic missiles were intercepted - a statistic that would be alarming if it weren't so predictable.
Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that his country 'can't do anything' without the interceptors, describing cities as 'absolutely unprotected' from ballistic missile attacks. 'Russia is using this trying to destroy as much infrastructure as possible. For us it's very painful because we are dying here every day without these interceptors,' he said, perfectly capturing the grim reality.
Meanwhile, Zelensky faces a political challenge from former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who has called for an election and accused the government of corruption that 'deprived the military of weapons.' Nothing says 'support the troops' like a political coup attempt during an invasion.
The strikes began around midnight local time, with air raid sirens wailing and 20 Russian missiles crashing down. Power was cut to thousands of properties, plunging parts of the Kyiv region into darkness - because nothing says 'Happy Thursday' like a blackout. A day of mourning was declared on Friday, presumably to give everyone time to process the fact that 168 drones and 44 missiles were launched, with air defences managing to shoot down 146 drones and 39 cruise missiles. The ballistic missiles, however, got a free pass.
In the broader Kyiv region, an attack in the Brovary and Boryspil districts killed one man and wounded seven, while one person was killed and 11 injured in Donetsk Oblast. Russia, ever the overachiever, claimed to have shot down 726 Ukrainian drones across various regions. Romania reported a drone crossing into its territory, triggering an air alert before crashing into an 'uninhabited area' - presumably the only safe place in the region. Poland also launched 'defensive air operations' to protect its airspace, because why not join the party?
Recent weeks have seen both sides engage in massive air strikes, resulting in dozens of deaths. Ukraine has stepped up attacks deep inside Russia, including a wave of 600 drones at Moscow over the weekend. Two separate attacks on Russia this week killed at least 16 people, including one child. Ukraine has also been systematically targeting facilities belonging to online retailer Wildberries, Russia's answer to Amazon, with the defence ministry claiming that seven out of ten logistics centres have been 'disabled.' Because nothing says 'war strategy' like going after a delivery service.
Despite the ongoing carnage, diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire have made little progress, with both sides accusing each other of targeting civilians. Russia first launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022 and currently controls about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, largely in the eastern border regions. In related news, the UK has expressed its support for Ukraine '100%,' which is comforting, if not particularly actionable.