Russia strikes Ukrainian defense industry facilities in overnight attack – Moscow

A military depot and an airfield were also hit, according to defense officials

Russian forces carried out a strike on Ukrainian defense industry facilities and other military targets overnight, the Defense Ministry in Moscow reported on Thursday. Ukrainian officials earlier claimed that Kiev bore the brunt of the attack.

The ministry reported in a statement a “large-scale precision strike” involving long-range weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The targets included “Ukraine’s defense industry facilities, a military airfield infrastructure, and a depot storing ammunition, missiles, and components for the production of unmanned aerial vehicles,” according to the ministry.

“All designated targets have been hit,” the ministry said in its statement. “The objectives of the strike have been achieved.” 

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian officials reported a powerful attack on Kiev, with videos showing numerous explosions and fires. Ukrainian defense officials claimed seven people were killed and 64 injured, with 50 hospitalized.

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Ukrainian officials also claimed the barrage was “calculated specifically to overload the air defense system.” Kiev has repeatedly complained of a shortage of Western-supplied air defenses and regularly requests more weapons and ammunition.

According to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, the attack also targeted the regions of Dnepropetrovsk, Poltava, Sumy, and Nikolayev. He claimed the raid involved more than 300 drones and eight missiles. The Ukrainian Air Force reported five Russian missiles and 21 attack drones having landed direct hits across the country.

Russia maintains that it only strikes military-related sites and never civilian targets. It has also said that its raids are retaliation for Ukrainian strikes deep into Russian territory, which often hit residential buildings, energy facilities, and critical infrastructure.