Russia Launches Massive Aerial Attack on Ukraine

 

Russia on Friday launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine, involving dozens of cruise missiles and drones.

The Russian military targeted Ukrainian power grid, energy minister Herman Halushchenko wrote on his Facebook page.

"The enemy continues its terror," he said.

Ukraine's air force reported multiple strike drones launched at Ukraine overnight followed by swarms of cruise missiles in country's air space. It said Russia also used air-launched ballistic Kinzhal missiles against Ukraine's western regions.

The Kremlin on Thursday reportedly was gearing up for an imminent attack on Ukraine by using its experimental intermediate-range Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile in response to Kyiv's successful use of U.S.-made long-range ballistic missiles to strike inside Russian territory.

The threat of an attack Thursday came a day after Ukraine used six U.S.-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) supersonic ballistic missiles to strike the Taganrog military airfield near the Azov Sea in southern Russia's Rostov Region.

"[Russian President Vladimir] Putin has said publicly that Russia intends to launch another experimental Oreshnik missile," Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said Wednesday at a briefing. "It's possible that Russia could do it in the coming days. I don't have an exact date for you. I think it's important to note that should Russia choose to launch this type of missile, it's not going to be a game-changer on the battlefield.

"It's just yet another attempt to inflict harm and casualties in Ukraine. You know, we've seen this before. They're trying to use every weapon that they have in their arsenal to intimidate Ukraine. But, of course, Ukraine, with the United States, other partners around the world, continues to have our support as they fight every single day on the battlefield."

Russia said it would definitely retaliate for the ATACMS missile attack, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to state-owned news outlet TASS.

"I'd like to recall the statement the Russian Defense Ministry made unequivocally [Wednesday] saying that there will be a response," Peskov said, adding the response will come when and how Russia sees fit.

"But it will definitely follow," he said.

Sing said an intelligence assessment concluded Russia could use the Oreshnik in the "coming days." Russia reportedly has only a handful of the missiles and they carry a smaller warhead than other missiles regularly launched at Ukraine. But because of their speed, they are much harder to defend.

Last month, Russia utilized the Oreshnik for the first time, striking the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Reports from the ground described massive fireballs erupting as the missile struck its target with incredible speed. Putin called the incident part of his country's military strategy, claiming it was necessary to respond to Ukraine's use of U.S.- and British-made ballistic missiles.