Moscow Winter Aerial Bombardment of Ukraine

"These widespread attacks n Ukraine's cities show [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will stop at nothing to achieve his aim of eradicating freedom and democracy."

"We must continue to stand with Ukraine -- for as long as it takes."

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

 

"Everything indicates that a Russian missile intruded in Poland's airspace. It was monitored by us on radars and left the airspace."

"We have confirmation of this on radars and from allies [in NATO]."

Polish defence chief, General Wieslaw Kukula

 

"Today, millions of Ukrainians awoke to the loud sound of explosions."

"I wish those sounds of explosions in Ukraine could be heard all around the world. In all major capitals, headquarters, and Parliaments, which are currently debating further support for Ukraine."

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kubela

A teacher inspects her classroom, which was damaged after a missile attack in Lviv, Ukraine, on Friday. Russia launched missiles as well as drones against Ukrainian targets during the night. (Yuriy Dyachyshyn/AFP/Getty Images)

Across Ukraine 122 missiles and dozens of drones flew from Russia against Ukrainian targets, considered by air force officials to represent the largest aerial barrage of the two-year-old conflict.

An unknown number of people were buried under rubble during the 18-hour onslaught which hit a maternity hospital, apartment blocks and schools among other buildings across the country where damage was reported and 27 civilians killed.

 

Most of the ballistic and cruise missiles and Shahed-type drones that hit overnight were intercepted by the Ukrainian air force, according to Valeriii Zaluzhny, Ukraine's military chief. Warning had recently been given by Western officials and analysts that Russia had up to the present limited its cruise missile strikes for months, apparently to build stockpiles for such massive winter strikes, with the intention of breaking the spirit of Ukrainians. 

That strategy resulted in "the most massive aerial attack" since Moscow's February 2022 full-scale invasion was launched, according to Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk. The current onslaught was greater than the previous biggest assault that took place in November 2022 when Russia launched 96 missiles, and March earlier in 2023 when Russia launched 81 missiles, according to air force records.

Local residents stand inside a damaged building after a missile attack in Odesa, Ukraine, on Friday. (Yuriy Dyachyshyn/AFP/Getty Images)

 

Winter weather has bogged down fighting along the front line in the wake of Ukraine's summer counteroffensive which failed to produce a hoped-for significant breakthrough along the 1,000-kilometre line of contact. Which has led to Ukrainian officials urging Western allies to provide greater numbers of air defences for the war to turn in Ukraine's favour. Appeals that have as yet garnered little response, while war fatigue strain has led to inaction in support of Ukraine.

Russia on Friday bombarded Ukraine with one of its biggest missile attacks of the war, killing at least 27 civilians and wounding dozens more, officials said. A fire broke out at a maternity hospital in Dnipro, and there was heavy damage in Kyiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia and Lviv.  CBC News