Russian forces struck military targets in Ukraine with long-range, high-precision weapons this Friday (20), in response to an attack in Russia’s Rostov region this week, in which Kiev used missiles supplied by the US and Russia. Great Britain, declared the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Moscow stated on Thursday (19) that Ukraine had launched six American-made long-range ATACM missiles, as well as four British-made Storm Shadow missiles, in the Rostov region, southern Russian territory, a day earlier.
Ukrainian authorities said Friday’s Russian missile attack killed one person and damaged buildings in Kiev after explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that it had struck a command center belonging to Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency, the Luch design bureau in Kiev, which it claimed was involved in the design and manufacture of missiles, as well as a system of American-made Patriot anti-aircraft missiles.
“The objectives of the attack were achieved. All targets were reached”, announced the ministry.
Reuters was unable to verify the battlefield claim.
Understand the War between Russia and Ukraine
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and entered the territory from three fronts: through the Russian border, through Crimea and through Belarus, a country that is a strong ally of the Kremlin.
Forces loyal to President Vladimir Putin made significant advances in the first few days, but the Ukrainians managed to maintain control of Kiev, even though the city was also attacked.
The invasion was criticized internationally and the Kremlin was the target of Western economic sanctions.
In October 2024, after thousands of deaths, the war in Ukraine entered what analysts describe as its most dangerous moment yet.
Tensions rose when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the use of an intermediate-range hypersonic missile during an attack on Ukrainian soil. The projectile carried conventional warheads, but is capable of carrying nuclear material.
The launch took place after Ukraine launched an offensive inside Russian territory using weapons manufactured by Western powers, such as the United States, the United Kingdom and France.
Western intelligence reports that Russia is using North Korean troops in the conflict in Ukraine. Moscow and Pyongyang neither deny nor confirm the report.
President Vladimir Putin, who replaced his defense minister in May, has said that Russian forces are advancing much more effectively — and that Russia will achieve all of its objectives in Ukraine, although he did not elaborate.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he believes Putin’s main goals are to occupy the entire Donbass region, encompassing the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and to expel Ukrainian troops from Russia’s Kursk region, which they have controlled parts of since August. .
