KYIV: Ukraine launched its largest aerial assault on Russian territory overnight, marking a significant escalation in the nearly three-year war, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack targeted factories and energy infrastructure located hundreds of miles from the front lines.
The Russian military accused Ukraine of using US- and UK-supplied missiles in one of the strikes and vowed retaliation. The bombardment led to the closure of schools in the southwestern Saratov region and temporarily halted operations at nine airports in central and western Russia, according to Russian authorities.
With US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration approaching, both Moscow and Kyiv have intensified their strikes, aiming to gain leverage for potential peace negotiations to end the prolonged conflict.
Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed that its defense forces launched the most extensive strike to date, targeting military sites 200km to 1,100km deep within Russian territory. The regions hit included Bryansk, Saratov, Tula, and the Republic of Tatarstan.
Russia’s defense ministry reported intercepting six US-supplied ATACMS missiles and six British Storm Shadow cruise missiles launched by Ukraine during the attack on the Bryansk region. This latest round of Ukrainian airstrikes comes at a challenging time for Kyiv’s forces stationed at the front lines.
