[Kiev Suffers the Deadliest Attack Since July 2024]

On April 24, the agency reported that after the failure of the London talks, Russia launched one of its deadliest attacks on Kiev since the beginning of the war. In the early morning air raid by Russia on Ukraine today, at least nine people were killed and dozens injured. The most severe damage occurred in the Kiev region. Reports indicated that this attack was the third large-scale strike to cause significant casualties against civilian targets in Ukraine since early April, and it was also the deadliest attack on Kiev since July 2024.

Ukrainian Interior Minister Klymenko stated that the Russian attack targeted Kiev as well as eight regions of Ukraine - Kiev Oblast, Zhytomyr Oblast, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Kharkiv Oblast, Poltava Oblast, Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Sumy Oblast, and Zaporizhia Oblast. Kiev suffered the most severe damage during the air strikes. Kiev Mayor Klichko released the first message about the drone attack at midnight Moscow time. Klymenko said that emergency services extinguished 13 fires in Kiev. Klichko stated that the attack affected five districts of the city – Shevchenkivskyi District, Sviatoshynskyi District, Holosiivskyi District, Solomianskyi District, and Podilskyi District. Klymenko mentioned that by 7:30 AM in Kiev, nine deaths and over 70 injuries had been confirmed. Later, "National Broadcaster" (SUSPIILNE) added that the death toll rose to 10, with 63 injured, including children. According to Klymenko, two missing children are still being searched for. Klichko mentioned that six children were hospitalized. Klichko stated that the worst damage occurred in the Sviatoshynskyi District, where some individuals were buried under rubble due to the attack. It remains unclear which specific damages were caused by precise hits and which were due to debris falling from downed anti-aircraft systems. Based on information from Klichko and Kiev Military Administration Head Timur Tkachenko, Ukrainian air defense systems reportedly shot down several drones.

Kharkiv Mayor Tereshov stated that two people were injured in the Kharkiv attack. He said that the attack involving 14 drones and 10 rockets damaged multiple high-rise residential buildings, urban clinics, school buildings, businesses, and hotels.

The report noted that the attack on Kiev early Thursday morning was the third strike against Ukraine to cause casualties since the start of the month, following the April 4 attack on Kryvyi Rih that left 21 dead (including nine children), and the rocket attack on Sumy that resulted in 35 civilian deaths (including two children). The last major attack targeting Kiev was on April 6, when three people were injured. The July 8, 2024, attack on Kiev was the deadliest attack carried out by Russia. At that time, rockets also hit the children's hospital "Okhmachtet". At least 34 people died and over 120 were injured. On December 29, 2023, Russia carried out another deadly attack on Kiev, resulting in 33 deaths and 30 injuries. On October 10, 2022, Kiev was shelled, causing seven deaths and 49 injuries. On March 20, 2022, a rocket attack by Russia on Kiev's "Retroville" shopping center left eight dead.

The attack on Kiev occurred against the backdrop of stalled peace negotiations in Ukraine. The previous day's decisive meeting in London ended in failure.

According to consolidated information from the Russian Defense Ministry, at dawn on the 24th, Ukraine used 87 drones to attack various regions of Russia and Crimea. The day before, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that 11 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight. Due to the drone threat, the Zhukovsky Airport near Moscow, Grabtsevo Airport in Kaluga Oblast, and Strigino Airport in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast implemented "carpet" closure plans early that morning.

In addition, the explosion at the 51st ammunition depot in Vladimir Oblast was also believed to be related to the drone attack. This depot could store over 250,000 tons of ammunition. Based on open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysts' analysis of satellite images, the fire caused damage to up to 40% of the buildings inside the depot.

Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1830275884167168/

Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's personal views.