Russia launched drone strikes on Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Wednesday, December 14, 2022. Ukrainian authorities said the attack was thwarted as their air defense system intercepted and damaged the explosive-laden drones.
The attacks emphasize how Ukraine’s biggest city remains vulnerable to the regular Russian attacks that have devastated infrastructure and other population centers.
In a brief video statement, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, disclosed that the “terrorists” fired 13 Iranian-made drones, and all were intercepted.
Such drones have been part of Russia’s firepower along with mortar, artillery and rocket strikes across Ukraine in recent weeks.
Kyiv remained largely quiet after the attack, which occurred around daybreak and before the start of the business day.
The destruction appeared minimal compared to fallout from other Russian strikes that have taken lives and toppled livelihoods across the country in recent weeks.
The strike left a wide hole in the roof of a three-story administrative building in the central Shevchenkyvskyi district. The blast blew out windows in parked cars and in a nearby building.
Serhii Popko, Head of the Kyiv city administration, wrote on Telegram that the strikes came in two waves, and shrapnel from the intercepted drones damaged one administrative building, while four residential buildings sustained minor damage.
In a show of Ukrainians’ reactivity and resilience to hundreds of such strikes in recent months, clean-up crews were on site quickly to clear the rubble and roll out plastic sheets to cover blown-out windows.
Ukrainian officials disclosed that during the latest round of Russian military barrages on December 5, 2022, more than 60 of 70 strikes were intercepted by air defense systems, including nine out of ten targeting the capital and its region.
U.S To Approve Patriot Missile Battery For Ukraine
On Tuesday, December 13, 2022, U.S officials disclosed that the United States was prepared to approve sending a Patriot missile battery to Ukraine.
This move is in response to an urgent appeal from Ukrainian leaders who are desperate for more robust weapons to shoot down incoming Russian missiles.
Three officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, intimated that the approval is likely to come later this week and could be announced as early as Thursday.
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Western leaders as recently as Monday, December 12, 2022 to provide more advanced weapons to help his country in its war with Russia.
During a video conference, Zelenskyy informed Germany and other leaders of the Group of Seven industrial powers (G7) that his country needed long-range missiles, modern tanks, artillery, missile batteries and other high-tech air defense systems to counter Russian attacks that have knocked out electricity and water supplies for millions of Ukrainians.
“It would be right to begin the withdrawal of Russian troops from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine this Christmas. If Russia withdraws its troops from Ukraine, then a reliable cessation of hostilities will be ensured.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
The Patriot would be the most unconventional surface-to-air missile system the West has provided to Ukraine to help resist Russian aerial attacks in the war between the countries.
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