On this picture offered by the Ukrainian Emergency Conditions Ministry, firefighters put out fireplace attributable to fragments of a Russian rocket after it was shot down by air protection system throughout the evening Russian rocket assault in Kyiv, Ukraine, early Tuesday, Could 16, 2023. (Ukrainian Emergency Conditions Ministry through AP)
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian air defenses thwarted an intense Russian air assault on Kyiv early Tuesday, taking pictures down all 18 missiles aimed on the capital.
Loud explosions boomed over Kyiv because the nighttime assault mixed Russian missiles launched from the air, sea and land in an obvious try to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses. No casualties have been reported.
Russia’s newest assault on Kyiv was “distinctive in its density — the utmost variety of attacking missiles within the shortest time period,” mentioned Serhii Popko, the pinnacle of the Kyiv army administration.
The British ambassador to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons, tweeted that the barrage was “fairly intense.”
“Bangs and shaking partitions are usually not a straightforward evening,” she wrote.
It was the eighth time this month that Russian air raids had focused the capital, a transparent escalation after weeks of lull and forward of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive. It additionally got here as President Volodymyr Zelenksyy concluded a whirlwind European tour to greet Ukraine’s key wartime allies, which spurred a further tranche of pledged army help.
Ukraine’s Air Power mentioned 18 missiles of assorted sorts have been launched, together with drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. All have been intercepted, mentioned Air Power spokesman Yurii Ihnat.
Six “Kinzhal” aero-ballistic missiles have been launched from MiG-31K plane, 9 cruise missiles from ships within the Black Sea and three land-based S-400 cruise missiles focused the capital, Ihnat mentioned in a press release on Telegram.
After the primary onslaught, Russia additionally launched Iranian-made Shahed assault drones and performed aerial reconnaissance, Ihnat mentioned.
Particles fell throughout a number of districts within the capital. Within the Solomyansky district, beginning a fireplace in a non-residential constructing.
Particles set vehicles on fireplace and fell on the grounds of a zoo, however no losses have been reported, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko mentioned.
The barrage got here as European leaders have been attributable to attend a uncommon summit of the 46-nation Council of Europe, the continent’s principal human rights physique.
The 2-day assembly in Iceland seeks to arrange a approach of logging injury in Ukraine attributable to the Kremlin’s forces so compensation claims may be lodged towards Moscow.
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Comply with AP’s protection of the battle in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
