Over 120 missiles and 90 drones: the Russian attack, one of the most massive on Ukraine, has caused extensive damage to energy infrastructure and at least 10 victims also in the western areas of the country, so much so that Poland has scrambled fighter jets as a precaution.
Joe Biden has crossed the line when, after months of refusals and two months after Trump took office, he authorized Kiev to use American long-range Atacms missiles, with a range of up to 300 kilometers, to strike Russia. According to US officials, the weapons will probably be deployed first against Russian and North Korean troops defending Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region.
Ukraine plans to conduct its first long-range strikes in the coming days, but has not disclosed details for operational security reasons. Vladimir Putin warned in September about the authorization to use Atacm, explaining that Moscow would consider it as a "direct participation" of NATO countries in the war in Ukraine. But Biden's decision does not please even Trump's loyalists: "An escalation before leaving" the presidency, Republican Richard Grenell attacks on X.
“We have been hit by one of the most powerful strikes ever,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andryi Sybiha said. Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said Moscow targeted “energy production and the transmission network across Ukraine,” triggering emergency blackouts in several regions, with blackouts expected in the coming days. The Russian Defense Ministry said it targeted “Ukrainian energy infrastructure that powers the military-industrial complex and enterprises that manufacture military equipment,” as well as “military airfields and gas production facilities.”
"Russian terrorists," Volodymyr Zelensky accused, "used drones of various types, especially the Shahed, but also cruise, ballistic and hypersonic missiles, such as the Iskander, Zirkon and Kinzhal." "Our defense forces destroyed more than 140 targets and we are grateful to our air force - F-16, Sukhoi and MiG pilots - and mobile fire groups, electronic warfare units: everyone worked in an organized manner," Zelensky said. But it was not enough to completely neutralize the assault. The scale of the attack has also raised the alert at the IAEA: "The massive Russian raids across the country are putting nuclear security under further pressure," warns Rafael Grossi.
(Unioneonline/D)