KYIV — Russia launched 188 drones targeting 17 regions in Ukraine in an overnight attack, the Ukrainian air force said on Tuesday. The blitz marks the record number of drones fired by Russia in a single attack.
"Nearly two hundred Russian drones against Ukraine in one day – that is nearly two hundred proofs that Russian ambitions are utterly detached from any ideas of real peace," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his daily address on Tuesday.
Zelenskyy said that while most of the drones were shot down or neutralized, the shelling damaged apartment buildings and critical infrastructure such as the national power grid. He added that, following the massive attack, the aftermath is still being dealt with in the Ternopil region.
The Ukrainian president also said that a rescue operation is underway after Russia launched an attack on a service station in the Sumy region, which killed at least two people. The attack also damanged a residential building and a kindergarten.
Zelensky said that Moscow reportedly used a multiple rocket launch system, and that "the only way to defend against such attacks is by destroying Russian weapons and launch systems on Russian territory."
Earlier in November, Biden authorized the use of US-supplied long-range weapons for Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory after North Korean troops were deployed to fight alongside Moscow in their war against Ukraine. On November 19, Kyiv launched its first attack with the US-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry made a rare official acknowledgment that the long-range weapons launched by Ukraine damaged infrastructure and injured several servicemen.
They stated that five ATACMS missiles were fired at an air defense missile system in Russia's Kursk border region on Saturday, of which only three were shot down, injuring servicemen and damaging the system's radar. On Monday, Ukraine launched another ATACMS attack, whereby seven out of eight missiles were shot down. One hit the facility and caused minor damage, and two servicemen were injured.
“Preparations for retaliatory action are underway,” the ministry said without elaborating.
Speaker of the Russian State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, urged the West to refrain from escalating tensions, as it could ultimately harm the citizens of Europe.
"We must stop creating tension and sliding into the abyss, which is happening due to the actions and decisions of Biden, Macron, Scholz and the like. Zelenskyy's regime is doomed. But everything that we are seeing happening now can cause damage and harm to citizens of European countries," Volodin said.
The speaker also added that the use of the new Oreshnik ballistic missile was necessary and timely to protect Russian citizens. — Euronews
