Russia launches missile barrage, launching largest-ever attack on Ukraine
Russia launches large-scale attack on Ukraine: A series of missiles and drones deployed
Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine on November 17, 2024, launching 120 missiles and 90 drones into the country's territory. This is considered one of the largest attacks since the outbreak of hostilities, causing serious damage to infrastructure and civilians.
Heavy damage to infrastructure and civilians
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 140 targets, including Russian missiles and drones. However, the attacks still destroyed half of the country's electricity production capacity, causing severe power outages in many areas.
DTEK electricity company was forced to carry out emergency power cuts in the capital Kiev and the eastern regions of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk. The blackout also spread to southern regions such as Odessa, along with Vinnytsia, Rivne, Volhynia and Zaporizhzhia.
In Mykolaiv, a drone attack killed two people and injured six others, including two children. Two people were also injured in Zaporizhzhia and one person in Dnipro. In the capital Kiev, one person was injured when debris from a drone fell on a residential area.
Ukraine's difficult context
The attack comes amid major challenges for Ukraine. A harsh winter is approaching, putting further pressure on already damaged infrastructure. On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces are struggling to cope with increasingly powerful attacks from Russia.
In addition, aid from the West is also at risk of being affected after Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election, when he repeatedly expressed his opposition to large-scale funding for Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba commented that this was not only a military attack but also a "strong response" from Russia to the West, especially after the phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on November 15. This was the first time Mr. Putin had spoken to a major Western leader in nearly two years.
International moves: Poland deploys fighter jets to respond
The escalation in Russian attacks has caused neighboring countries, especially Poland, to be on high alert. According to AFP, on November 17, Polish officials confirmed that they had deployed fighter jets and mobilized all available forces to respond.
On the social network X (formerly Twitter), the Polish Combat Command announced: “Due to a large-scale Russian attack with cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles on several targets, including western Ukraine, the operation of Polish and allied aircraft has begun.”
In addition, NATO is also closely monitoring the situation. The military alliance has pledged to support Ukraine in improving its air defense system to counter missile and drone attacks from Russia.
Russia's response and strategic intentions
According to analysts, this large-scale attack could be an attempt by Russia to increase pressure on Ukraine as well as send a strong message to Western countries. The war has lasted nearly two years, but Russia seems to be focusing on weakening Ukraine's essential infrastructure, especially as winter approaches.
The destruction of Ukraine’s power grid will not only cause an energy crisis, but will also severely impact the lives of civilians and weaken the country’s defense capabilities.
A challenging future
While Ukraine has made some progress in shooting down Russian targets, repeated attacks are raising serious questions about the sustainability of its air defenses and the country’s long-term resilience.
As hostilities escalate, international support, especially military and financial aid from the West, will be crucial to Ukraine’s ability to defend and recover in the coming period.
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