Russia launched airstrikes at Kyiv on Sunday. The airstrikes took aim at Western military supplies for Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that any Western deliveries of longer-range rocket systems would prompt Russia to hit “objects that we haven’t yet struck.” The cryptic threat of a military escalation did not specify what the new targets could be.
British intelligence said that Russia’s attack on Kyiv was likely an attempt to disrupt the supply of Western arms to Ukraine. One of the missiles was intercepted by Ukraine’s air defense unit, but the rest of the missiles hit “infrastructure facilities” in the north part of the capital city.
An advisor to Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs said one military target was hit, and one civilian target was also hit.
The strikes come days after the United States announced plans to deliver $700 million of security assistance for Ukraine.
The package includes four precision-guided, medium-range rocket systems, as well as helicopters, Javelin anti-tank systems, radars, tactical vehicles, and more. It is expected to take three weeks to get the weapons onto the battlefield.
Russia is aiming to overrun the Donbas region in the east of Ukraine, according to military analysts. Analysts say that Russia is hoping to overrun the area before the arrival of the weapons have the potential to turn the tide.
In a news interview last night, Putin lashed out at Western deliveries of weapons to Ukraine, saying that they aim to prolong the war. He said the “fuss” around additional deliveries, in his opinion has one goal: “to drag out the armed conflict as much as possible.” He insisted that the supplies would not change the military situation.
Putin threatened that Moscow will “draw appropriate conclusions” and use “means of destruction” if Kyiv gets longer-range rockets.
The U.S. has stopped short of offering Ukraine longer-range weapons that could fire into Russia.
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