Russia's Missile and Drone Strikes Escalate: Ukraine Vows Retaliation

Russia launched missile and drone attacks on multiple Ukrainian regions, killing at least five people. President Zelenskiy promised retaliation and requested allies' support for air defense. Ukraine intercepted several missiles and drones, but many remain unaccounted for. Moscow claims the strikes were reprisals for a Ukrainian incursion.

Russia's latest missile and drone attacks on various Ukrainian regions resulted in the deaths of at least five individuals, with more casualties feared under the rubble in Kryvyi Rih. This follows Moscow's largest air assault to date on Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed retaliation and urged allies to consider joint air defense initiatives and provide long-range capabilities. In Tuesday's attack, Ukraine's air force intercepted five out of ten missiles and 60 out of 81 drones, but lost track of several others, some of which crossed into Belarusian territory.

The Russian defense ministry reported a high-precision strike operation, denying any deliberate targeting of civilians, a claim at odds with the rising death toll since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Kyiv's defensive measures were effective, preventing casualties despite debris causing minor fires in the capital.