Russia Strikes Kyiv After Week

Russian forces launched extensive drone and missile attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities on Tuesday, resulting in at least 22 fatalities. This bombardment followed over a week of Russian warnings regarding a significant strike on the Ukrainian capital. Ukrainian authorities reported that Russia deployed 656 drones and 73 missiles, with 33 missiles hitting their targets. The attacks caused six deaths and 65 injuries in Kyiv, including three children, and 16 deaths and 37 injuries in Dnipro. The strikes included hypersonic ballistic missiles, which provided minimal time for residents to seek shelter.

This latest assault, which included a psychological component, occurred despite Western envoys remaining in Kyiv in defiance of Russian evacuation advisories. Russia's Defense Ministry stated the attacks were a response to alleged "terrorist acts" on Russian targets, specifically referencing a Ukrainian drone strike on a college dormitory in Russian-controlled Luhansk. The scale of the attacks on Kyiv was comparable to two other major bombardments in the preceding month.

Analysts suggest Russia's strategy aims to impact the psychological state of Ukrainians, potentially to pressure them into demanding an end to the conflict. This pattern of escalating attacks, combined with psychological warfare, is anticipated to continue. The May 14 attack, involving over 1,400 drones, previously marked the largest drone assault of the conflict.