Russia launched a drone and missile attack on Ukraine during the night of November 17. This marks one of the largest assaults in recent months, prompting neighboring Poland to raise its combat readiness and deploy aircraft to secure its airspace. Ukrainian authorities report that Russia fired ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles from three directions.
Multiple powerful explosions were recorded in the capital, Kyiv, between 6:30 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. local time, according to a journalist from the Kyiv Independent on the ground. Following the attacks, one person was hospitalized, and another received emergency medical assistance on-site.
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In addition to the strikes on Kyiv, at least one person was killed and six others injured, including two children, in the city of Mykolaiv during a mass Russian drone and missile assault, regional governor Vitaliy Kim stated.
Several private residences, apartment buildings, vehicles, a shopping mall, and infrastructure were damaged in the attack, the governor added.
This latest Russian missile barrage marks the first large-scale attack on Kyiv in over two months. In recent months, Russia had primarily relied on frequent drone strikes to target the capital.
Poland Heightens Combat Readiness
Neighboring Poland activated its air forces early this morning in response to the widespread attacks across Ukraine.
“Due to the massive attack by the Russian Federation using cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drones on facilities located, among other places, in western Ukraine, Polish and allied warplanes have begun operations in our airspace,” the Polish military command center announced on the X platform earlier today.
The statement also mentioned that all available forces and resources of the Polish military had been activated, with standby fighter jets deployed and air defense and radar reconnaissance systems placed on the highest level of readiness.
Energy Infrastructure Hit, Ukraine Plunged into Darkness
Russia’s missile strikes targeted energy infrastructure across Ukraine, leading to precautionary power outages, Energy Minister German Galushchenko announced, as reported by Reuters.
Kyiv is among three regions where power outages have occurred due to the extensive Russian attacks.
Ukraine’s largest energy company reported that the strikes caused “significant damage.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia had launched around 120 missiles and 90 drones, specifically targeting energy infrastructure.
Russia Strikes with Cruise, Ballistic, and Hypersonic Missiles
Multiple cruise, ballistic, and hypersonic missiles were reportedly launched from the Black Sea, as well as from Russia’s Astrakhan region and Krasnodar Krai, targeting several Ukrainian regions.
Earlier in the evening, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers had taken off from the Olenya airbase in Murmansk.
Later in the evening, the War Monitor Telegram channel reported a total of 17 Tu-95 strategic bombers in flight, seven of which took off from the Engels airbase in Saratov.
In recent months, Russia has primarily focused on large-scale drone attacks to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses in cities across the country.
Ukraine’s air force previously reported that between August and October 2024, Russia launched at least 4,300 Shahed and similar combat drones in its war against Ukraine.
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Source: Blic, foto: AP/ EVGENIY MALOLETKA, AP/ ALEX BABENKO, AP/ MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV / RINGIER