Post by : Bianca
Haleem
A major Russian drone and missile attack on civilian areas of Ukraine has killed four people and injured at least 27, Ukrainian officials said Tuesday. The strike comes as Russia appears to prepare for a new spring ground offensive.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia fired almost 400 long-range drones overnight, marking the biggest attack in weeks. The barrage continued into Tuesday morning, with dozens of drones targeting Kyiv.
In addition, Russia launched 23 cruise missiles and seven ballistic missiles, hitting at least 10 locations across Ukraine. Civilians have faced constant attacks since Russia’s full-scale invasion began over four years ago.
Ukraine’s military, though short-handed, is preparing for intensified Russian attacks along the roughly 1,250-kilometer front line in eastern and southern Ukraine.
Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, said Russian troops attempted simultaneous breakthroughs in several strategic areas over the past days. “Fierce fighting unfolded along the entire line of contact,” he said, noting Russia launched 619 attacks in four days.
Syrskyi added that Ukraine had deployed reinforcements to counter these assaults. Washington-based think tank, the Institute for the Study of War, confirmed that these actions indicate Russia’s spring-summer offensive is underway.
Since March 17, Russia has increased strikes and moved more troops and heavy equipment to the front. Historically, Russia escalates its war of attrition as weather improves, but so far, it has made only incremental gains, mostly in rural areas. Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea.
Ukraine has strengthened its defenses with advanced drones to offset infantry shortages. Kyiv is offering its battle-tested drone technology to U.S. and Gulf partners in exchange for Patriot air defense missiles. Ukraine also uses long-range drones to strike Russian areas supporting Moscow’s war effort, though Russia intercepted 55 Ukrainian drones overnight over Russian regions, Crimea, and the Black Sea.
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