Russia Hits Kyiv With Missiles As EU Chief Visits Ukraine
Russian forces launched a series of ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv and drone attacks on Kharkiv shortly after a visit by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The attacks highlight Ukraine's ongoing struggle with air defense shortages as the country prepares to begin domestic production of Patriot missile components.
Why it matters
The escalation of ballistic missile strikes underscores the critical nature of air defense capabilities in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the geopolitical importance of Western military support.
A series of explosions rang out in Kyiv shortly after midnight on Thursday, an AFP journalist said, after a Ukrainian air force alert reported the approach of several ballistic missiles.There were a number of bright flashes in the sky over Ukraine's capital, followed by half a dozen detonations, they said.The attack came a few hours after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited to boost defence ties.Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on social media that a warehouse was hit while "missile debris fell on non-residential buildings".At the same time, Kharkiv, the main city in northeast Ukraine, was hit by combat drones, its mayor said.Kyiv has been regularly targeted by Russian strikes using…
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