Cops examine part of a Russian Kh-55 cruise missile in a park in Kyiv, March 24, 2024. REUTERS
KYIV — Russia struck important infrastructure in Ukraine’s western area of Lviv with missiles early on Sunday, Kyiv mentioned, in a serious airstrike that noticed one Russian cruise missile briefly fly into Polish airspace in line with Warsaw.
Moscow launched 57 missiles and drones within the assault that additionally focused the capital Kyiv, two days after the biggest aerial bombardment of Ukraine’s vitality system in additional than two years of full-scale battle, Kyiv mentioned.
“There have been two preliminary hits on the identical important infrastructure facility that the occupiers focused at night time,” Lviv’s regional governor Maksym Kozytskyi wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
The strike used Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, that are tougher to shoot down, he added, with out figuring out the ability.
READ: Kyiv, Lviv beneath Russian air assault, Poland prompts plane
The vitality ministry mentioned gear caught hearth when a important vitality facility within the Lviv area was attacked, inflicting it to lose energy. It was unclear in the event that they have been speaking about the identical facility.
Air defenses destroyed 18 of 29 inbound missiles and 25 of 28 assault drones, the air power mentioned.
There have been virtually no particulars about what had been broken, however the focusing on of important infrastructure might point out Russia is attempting to maintain up stress on the vitality system after its strikes triggered widespread blackouts on Friday.
The vitality ministry mentioned Ukraine, which has been exporting energy in latest weeks, had sharply elevated imports of electrical energy and stopped exports on Sunday after assaults on the vitality system.
A number of explosions rang out in Kyiv within the early hours as air defenses destroyed a couple of dozen missiles over the capital and its neighborhood, mentioned Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s army administration.
READ: Russia kilos energy services of Ukraine, Kremlin embraces ‘battle’ rhetoric
There was solely minor injury from the assault, he mentioned.
Small teams of individuals huddled for security underground in a central Kyiv metro station within the early hours, a few of them sleeping on tenting mats.
Moscow has been pounding Ukraine for days in assaults portrayed by Moscow as revenge for Ukrainian assaults that have been performed throughout Russia’s presidential election.
The wreckage of a downed Kh-55 cruise missile was present in a Kyiv park, officers mentioned.
“For the third pre-dawn morning this week, all of Ukraine is beneath an air alert and has been suggested to hunt shelter,” U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink posted on X.
Russia’s protection ministry didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Polish airspace
Poland’s armed forces mentioned a Russian cruise missile launched on the area of Lviv had violated Poland’s airspace.
“The item entered Polish area close to the city of Oserdow (Lublin Voivodeship) and stayed there for 39 seconds,” it mentioned on the social media platform X. “Throughout all the flight, it was noticed by army radar methods.”
Poland’s military spokesperson, Jacek Goryszewski, instructed reporters that the missile travelled about 2 km (1.2 miles) into Polish airspace earlier than returning to Ukraine.
There was no speedy remark from Russia. Warsaw mentioned it will demand a proof from Moscow.
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Polish Protection Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz mentioned Warsaw would proceed to help Ukraine each militarily and on the humanitarian facet.
