At least 15 civilians, including three children, have been killed and more than 40 injured after a barrage of Russian missiles and drones struck Kyiv and 12 other regions overnight, Ukrainian officials said.
asserted
officials → include → Kyiv
The widespread strike had been anticipated, following a warning from President Volodymyr Zelensky a day earlier that intelligence services believed Moscow was preparing a "massive" bombardment.
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Moscow → anticipate → bombardment
Despite foreknowledge of the impending attack, which coincided with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 74th birthday, Ukrainian forces were unable to completely defend against the assault.
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forces → coincide → assault
The casualties and damage highlight the growing challenge Ukraine faces in countering Russia's ballistic weapons alongside its newer jet-powered drones.
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Ukraine → highlight → drones
Without adequate ammunition for its US-made Patriot air defence systems, Kyiv cannot stop incoming ballistic missiles.
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Kyiv → make → missiles
Consequently, the country is scrambling to manufacture a new class of high-speed interceptors to target Moscow’s fast, high-flying jet drones.
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country → scramble → drones
Both nations remain locked in a long-distance aerial struggle while ground forces remain largely stalled on the battlefield, more than four and a half years after Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
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forces → remain → invasion
Though the relentless air war causes strain to Russia, it threatens devastating consequences for its smaller neighbour.
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it → cause → neighbour
US-led peace efforts appear unlikely to bring any short-term relief, with the possibility of holding low-level technical talks still under discussion.
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efforts → lead → discussion
Putin, meanwhile, is pressing ahead with the invasion in the belief that Ukrainians will buckle under the pressure and Kyiv’s Western supporters won’t stay the course, Western analysts say.
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analysts → press → course
A Russian strike destroyed an apartment block in Pryluky, in Ukraine’s northern Chernihiv region, killing nine people, including three children, and wounding 34, Interior Minister Ihor Vyhivskyi said.
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Vyhivskyi → destroy → 34
Deaths were also reported in three other Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv, according to Zelensky.
uncertain
Deaths → report → Zelensky
“The Russians wanted to strike painfully and demonstratively,” the Ukrainian leader said on social media.
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leader → want → media
Ukraine is looking worldwide for available Patriot missiles, which are in short supply due to the Iran war.
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which → look → war
“Russian ballistic missiles remain the greatest challenge.
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missiles → remain → ?
And air defense packages for us right now are a vital necessity,” Zelensky said.
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Zelensky → say → us
In Kremenchuk, in the Poltava region, two people were killed and seven injured, said Vitalii Diakivnych, head of the regional military administration, and a rescue operation was continuing.
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operation → kill → administration
“That is exactly what the enemy is counting on.
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enemy → count → what
For us to be afraid to fall asleep.
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us → fall → ?
So that everyone thinks: next time it could be my address,” he said.
uncertain
he → think → ?
Russia’s Defense Ministry said the military carried out a massive strike overnight targeting industrial facilities involved in the production and storage of missiles and drones across Ukraine.
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military → say → Ukraine
The ministry said that port and ship repair facilities in the southern Odesa region and ships carrying cargo for the Ukrainian military were also hit.
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facilities → say → military
Ukraine has hit back at Russia by launching long-range drones and missiles on oil refineries and storage depots.
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Ukraine → hit → refineries
Zelensky said Wednesday that Ukraine targeted two oil facilities and a training ground in the Perm, Samara, and Astrakhan regions of Russia.
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Ukraine → say → Russia
Russian officials made no immediate comment.
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officials → make → comment
Zelensky also indicated that Ukraine had struck in the Black Sea.
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Ukraine → indicate → Sea
He posted images of a fire said to show an oil tanker burning in the water near the Russian city of Sochi.
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tanker → post → Sochi
It was not possible to independently verify the images.
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It → verify → images
Some Russian online media late Tuesday also posted the images.
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media → post → images
Unconfirmed media reports said it was carrying oil from Novorossiysk to India and was attacked by Ukrainian sea drones.
uncertain
it → say → drones
The Aporia
