Putin launches fresh missile strike against Kyiv in first attacks on Ukrainian capital since New Year’s Day
- The missiles damaged several houses and one piece of ‘critical infrastructure’
- A pair of rockets also hit infrastructure targets in Kharkiv, the governor said
- Fighting continues in Soledar and Bakhmut with both sides claiming victory
- Rishi Sunak tells Zelensky Britain will send a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks
Russia launched a fresh wave of missile attacks on Kyiv this morning as a series of explosions rocked the Ukrainian capital for the first time since New Year’s Day.
No one was reported hurt, but missile debris caused a major fire at one ‘critical infrastructure object’ and damaged houses on the outskirts of the city, officials said.
A pair of missiles also rained down on the industrial district of Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv, the regional governor reported.
Ukraine is bracing for a second wave of attacks this afternoon, with air raid sirens ringing out across the country.
The regional governor of Mykolaiv, Vitaliy Kim, said Russian missiles had already been spotted flying in Ukraine’s south and that air defences were working to shoot them down before they could impact civilian centres.
Moscow’s fresh aerial assault comes as both sides continue a bitter fight for the towns of Bakhmut and Soledar in Ukraine’s embattled eastern region of Donetsk.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today told Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky that Britain will soon deliver a squadron of Challenger 2 battle tanks to help ‘push Russian troops back’ as a sign of the UK’s ‘ambition to intensify support for Ukraine.’
A view shows a crater left by a Russian missile, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in the village of Kopyliv, Kyiv region, Ukraine January 14, 2023
Men stand next to a crater left by a Russian missile, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in the village of Kopyliv, Kyiv region, Ukraine January 14, 2023
A wrecked car is seen as Russia-Ukraine war continues in Kharkiv, Ukraine on January 12, 2023
A destroyed structure is seen as Russia-Ukraine war continues in Kharkiv, Ukraine
Critical infrastructure in Kyiv was targeted in this morning’s attacks, the deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, said on Telegram.
An unidentified infrastructure object was hit in the city and emergency services were operating at the site of the strike, Kyiv’s city military administration said.
Explosions were heard in the Dniprovskyi district, a residential area on the left bank of the Dnieper River, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Klitschko also said that fragments of a missile fell on a non-residential area in the Holosiivskyi district on the right bank, and a fire broke out in a building there.
No casualties have been reported so far.
A total of 18 private houses were damaged in the region, according to regional governor Oleksii Kuleba, who added that a fire has been contained at a ‘critical infrastructure facility’ in the region.
Earlier on Saturday, two Russian missiles hit Kharkiv – regional governor Oleh Synehubov said Putin’s troops fired two S-300 missiles at the industrial district of Kharkiv.
The strikes targeted ‘energy and industrial objects of Kharkiv and the (outlying) region,’ Synehubov said.
No casualties have been reported, but emergency power cuts in the city and other settlements of the region were possible, the official said.
The attacks come amid conflicting reports on the fate of the fiercely contested salt mining town of Soledar, in Ukraine’s embattled eastern region of Donetsk.
Fog blankets the snow-covered Ukrainian capital today hours after Russian missiles struck infrastructure targets
Russian BM-21 Grad 122 mm multiple rocket launcher in operation during combat at an undisclosed location in Donetsk region, Ukraine
Ukrainian servicemen fire a 120mm mortar towards Russian positions at the frontline near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023
Ukrainian soldiers try to stave off the cold a few miles from the frontline near Soledar, January 13
Ukrainian army Grad multiple rocket launcher fires rockets at Russian positions in the frontline near Soledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023
Russia’s Defence Ministry said Friday that Soledar was captured on Thursday night, after a Ukrainian official earlier admitted their forces had faced ‘high intensity’ battles for the town.
But Ukrainian authorities and Zelensky insist the fight for Soledar continues.
‘Soledar is controlled by Ukrainian authorities, our military controls it,’ regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on national television.
But he said ‘battles continue in and outside of the city’ and added that Soledar and nearby Bakhmut were the ‘hottest’ spots on the frontline.
Moscow has painted the battle for the town and the nearby city of Bakhmut as key to capturing the eastern region of the Donbas, which comprises of partially occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and as a way to grind down the best Ukrainian forces and prevent them from launching counterattacks elsewhere.
But that cuts both ways, as Ukraine says its fierce defence of the eastern strongholds has helped tie up Russian forces who are reported to have suffered considerable casualties amid the battle for Bakhmut.
Ukrainian armed forces will see their efforts to drive Russian troops back bolstered in the coming weeks after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today confirmed the UK will deliver a squadron of Challenger 2 battle tanks to Ukraine.
Downing Street said Sunak made the pledge during a call on Saturday morning with Zelensky.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today confirmed the UK will deliver a squadron of Challenger 2 battle tanks (pictured) to Ukraine
Germany is said to be considering sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine
In a readout of the phone conversation, a No 10 spokeswoman said the Prime Minister offered Challenger 2 tanks and additional artillery systems as a sign of the UK’s ‘ambition to intensify our support to Ukraine’.
Zelensky thanked the UK on Twitter for making decisions that ‘will not only strengthen us on the battlefield, but also send the right signal to other partners’.
The move makes the UK the first Western power to supply the Ukrainians with main battle tanks.
UK Government insiders said the decision on tanks had to be made now in order to ensure Ukrainian soldiers could be trained in how to use the mobile weapons before a potential spring offensive.
Ministers hope the announcement will encourage other allies to follow suit, with Germany said to be considering sending a shipment of its Leopard 2 battle tanks.
No 10 has not yet confirmed the exact numbers of tanks it will send to Kyiv.
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