Russian Attacks Intensify in Ukraine, Striking Several Regions
In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, several regions in Ukraine have come under intense attack. According to regional authorities, the Dnipropetrovsk region has faced a 'massive attack,' along with Zaporizhzhia and other areas. The attacks have resulted in casualties and injuries, including children.
Background and Context
The recent attacks mark a new level of intensity in the conflict, as Dnipropetrovsk is not one of the five Ukrainian regions that Moscow has publicly claimed as Russian territory. The regions previously claimed include Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea. Despite this, an air raid warning is currently in effect for the Dnepropetrovsk region, according to TASS.
Key Developments
The attacks, which include both drone and missile strikes, have caused significant casualties. Local authorities report at least one person killed and 22 injured, including three children, in Zaporizhia. Al Jazeera English reports similar numbers, with one person dead and 24 wounded, including two children, in the same region. The Guardian, on the other hand, reports dozens injured from the attack on a five-story residential block in Zaporizhia.
The Kyiv Independent has reported higher casualties across Ukraine, with at least five civilians killed and 61 injured over the past day. In a subsequent report, the Kyiv Independent stated that Russian attacks killed four civilians and injured 27 over the past day. The Ukrainian Air Force has revealed that Russian forces launched 86 Shahed-type attack and decoy drones overnight, with air defenses intercepting 76.
Implications and Reactions
As Russia intensifies its offensive, Ukraine has retaliated by targeting Russian oil refineries. According to reports from The Guardian, Ukraine's military said on Saturday that it had struck Russian oil refineries in Krasnodar and Syzran overnight. Kyiv’s military recorded multiple explosions and a fire at the Krasnodar oil refinery in Russia’s south, which produces 3m tonnes of light petroleum products annually.
Meanwhile, Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, has said that communication between the negotiating groups of Moscow and Kiev is ongoing, indicating potential diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
Current Status
The situation remains volatile, with ongoing attacks and casualties. The international community watches closely as the conflict escalates, with Ukraine's Zaporizhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions under heavy assault. Despite the ongoing violence, diplomatic channels between Moscow and Kyiv remain open, offering a glimmer of hope for a potential resolution. However, with attacks intensifying, the situation on the ground remains unpredictable.