Russia Fires 30 Cruise Missiles At Ukraine; 29 Intercepted, Says Ukrainian Authorities
Russia fires 30 cruise missiles at Ukraine; 29 intercepted, says Ukrainian authorities. The cruise missiles were fired at various locations in Ukraine early Thursday, testing the effectiveness of Ukrainian air defenses. Ukrainian officials confirmed that their defenses successfully intercepted and destroyed 29 of the missiles.
According to Serhiy Bratchuk, a spokesperson for the military administration of the southern region of Odesa, one person lost their life and two others were injured when a Russian missile penetrated Ukrainian defenses and hit an industrial building.
During talks in Kyiv earlier this week, China's special envoy met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukraine's chief diplomat. The meeting took place amidst the escalating Russian air assaults on Ukraine.
Despite Beijing's peace proposal, no visible progress has been made in the ongoing war. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin emphasized on Thursday that the conflicting parties must establish mutual trust in order to advance towards a resolution.
According to Ukraine's presidential office, Ukrainian officials aimed to gain China's support for Kyiv's peace plan during the talks. President Zelenskyy's proposal encompasses objectives such as restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian forces, and holding Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable under international law for the invasion that took place in February 2022.
COPYRIGHT_BP: Published on https://bingepost.com/russia-fires-30-cruise-missiles-at-ukraine-29-intercepted-says-ukrainian-authorities/ by Cecilia Jones on 2023-05-18T20:47:08.092Z
As leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) convened in Japan on Thursday, their agenda included condemning Russia's war and reaffirming their commitment to supporting Ukraine in its battle against Moscow. Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, mentioned that discussions would focus on the situation on the Ukrainian battlefield.
According to a Western official, Russia has constructed highly capable defensive fortifications, including extensive minefields, within Ukrainian territory. They have deployed over 200,000 troops along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line. However, it is doubtful that they have significant reserve forces available.
While Ukraine receives advanced weapons systems from its Western allies, the Kremlin is experiencing losses of warplanes in areas that were previously considered secure. In a significant development, Kyiv has successfully intercepted Russia's hypersonic ballistic missiles, which are the most advanced weapons in Moscow's arsenal. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to share military intelligence, provided the information.
In occupied Crimea, authorities appointed by the Kremlin reported that eight train cars derailed on Thursday due to an explosion. This incident has reignited suspicions of potential Ukrainian saboteur involvement within Russian-controlled territories. Russian state media stated that the train was transporting grain.
According to the state news agency RIA Novosti, citing an emergency services source, the incident took place near the city of Simferopol. The Crimean Railway company stated that the derailment resulted from the interference of unauthorized individuals and confirmed no casualties.
Ukrainian officials have chosen not to comment on the possibility of sabotage. Andriy Yusov, spokesperson for Ukraine's military intelligence, highlighted on Ukrainian television that Russian train lines are utilized for the transportation of weapons, ammunition, and armored vehicles as well.
In an escalation of the conflict, the Kremlin's forces targeted Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, with loud explosions for the ninth time this month. This marked a significant increase in activity following a period of relative calm. The attack occurred just before an anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive, which would involve the use of recently supplied advanced Western weapons.
Debris from the explosions fell on two districts of Kyiv, resulting in a fire at a garage complex. Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv military administration, stated in a Telegram post that there was no immediate information regarding any casualties.
Ukrainian authorities reported that they successfully intercepted and shot down two Russian explosive drones and two reconnaissance drones. According to General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the Ukrainian commander in chief, the missiles were launched from Russian sea, air, and ground bases. The attacks occurred in multiple waves, targeting various areas of Ukraine between 9 p.m. Wednesday and 5:30 a.m. Thursday.
Kyiv authorities stated that Russian forces utilized strategic bombers from the Caspian region and fired X-101 and X-55 missiles, which were developed during Soviet times. Following the missile strikes, Russia deployed reconnaissance drones over the Ukrainian capital.
During the most recent significant air attack on Kyiv, which occurred on Tuesday, Ukrainian air defenses, supported by advanced Western-supplied systems, successfully intercepted and destroyed all incoming missiles, according to officials.
The attack involved the use of hypersonic missiles, which Russian President Putin has often emphasized as a crucial strategic asset. These missiles, renowned as some of Russia's most advanced weapons, pose challenges in detection and interception due to their high speed and maneuverability.
Thanks to advanced Western air defense systems, such as the American-made Patriot missiles, Kyiv has been spared from the devastating destruction experienced in the primary front line areas of eastern and southern Ukraine. Although ground fighting remains largely stalemated along that front line, both sides continue to target each other's territories using long-range weaponry.
The fiercest clashes have centered around the battle for the city of Bakhmut and its surrounding region in eastern Donetsk province. A Ukrainian military official claimed on Thursday that their forces had advanced up to 1.7 kilometers (over a mile) in that area during the previous day.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the wealthy owner of Russia's private military contractor Wagner, whose troops have played a prominent role in the conflict, asserted that Russian army units had withdrawn from their positions north of the city. Prigozhin, known for his criticism of the Russian military, made the claim.
Tragically, the violence over the past 24 hours resulted in the deaths of at least seven Ukrainian civilians, including a 5-year-old boy. Additionally, 18 people were injured, as reported by the presidential office.
According to the regional governor, two individuals were injured in a drone attack in Russia's Kursk region, which shares a border with Ukraine. In a Telegram post, Roman Starovoit alleged that Ukrainian forces dropped an explosive device from a drone targeting a sports and recreation complex.
Conclusion
Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that in Russia's Belgorod region, two individuals lost their lives due to Ukrainian shelling of the village of Nizhnee Berezovo, located approximately 10 kilometers (six miles) from the border.
