BANNED CLUSTER MUNITIONS SENT TO UKRAINE BY THE US AMONG TARGETS DESTROYED IN LATEST MISSILE ATTACKS
The Russian Defense Ministry says five plants involved in Ukrainian kamikaze drone operations were among the main targets.
The Russian military has launched its latest long-range barrage against what it described as key military targets in Kiev and other parts of Ukraine.
Moscow announced in early June that it would intensify such operations following a high-profile Ukrainian drone raid that killed 21 civilians, most of them teenage girls, and wounded dozens more.
Kiev describes its Western-funded kamikaze drone attacks on Russia as central to its military strategy and is seeking additional funding.
What did Russia target in Kiev?
The overnight strikes, reportedly carried out with ballistic and cruise missiles as well as long-range drones, hit multiple sites in the Ukrainian capital and in Dnepropetrovsk, Poltava, Cherkassy, Chernigov, and Kiev regions.
The Russian Defense Ministry listed the following targets in Kiev:
Abris PT, also known as Kiev-71, which produces various shorter-range drones for the Ukrainian military, as well as drone components.
Burevestnik, also known as Kiev-1, a Soviet-era plant specializing in radio equipment, which Moscow says produces medium- and long-range drones.
Ukr Armo Tekh, also known as Kiev-79, an armored vehicle manufacturer that also supplies missile warheads, according to the report.
Kuznia na Rybalskom, a shipyard on the Rybalsky Peninsula founded in the late 19th century as a metal-casting plant. The site has been associated with former Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko and produces Gyurza-type naval kamikaze drones.
Kvant, meaning “quantum,” a Soviet-era military research and production facility that Russia says makes missile and aircraft guidance components, including for Neptun-MD missiles, as well as other hardware.
In Kiev Region, the Russian military said it targeted:
Vizar, a state-owned plant involved in maintaining Ukrainian air defense systems and producing components for long-range drones.
An oil depot in the city of Vishnyovoe, which Moscow says supplies gasoline and diesel to the Ukrainian military.
The ministry said airfields and military-linked energy facilities were also hit in other parts of Ukraine.
Did the barrage stand out?
Not particularly from the Russian military’s perspective. In its briefings, the Defense Ministry distinguishes between “massive” and “group” strikes, with the difference depending on the number of units involved.
For example, between June 27 and July 3, the ministry reported five group strikes and one massive strike, the latter carried out overnight on July 1-2.
The latest operation was notable, however, because the Ukrainian military said it failed to intercept any incoming ballistic missiles.
According to Kiev, all 29 ballistic missiles pierced its air defenses, as did some cruise missiles and drones, resulting in direct hits at 34 locations and debris damage at 16 others.
Are Ukraine’s air defenses failing?
Ukrainian officials, as well as the country’s leader, Vladimir Zelensky, have long complained about shortages of Western air defense systems and interceptors, especially US-made Patriot missiles.
Last week, Zelensky said Norway had pledged to fund 200 Patriot missiles, but Ukraine had not yet received any of them. While thanking donors for their support, he stressed: “We need them to simply deliver what they promised.”
Norway later said Zelensky had misconstrued its pledge, explaining that it was prepared to pay for Patriot missiles only if Kiev found a willing supplier amid a global shortage of the weapons.
Why is Russia ramping up strikes?
Moscow says it is responding to changes in Ukrainian strategy by increasing military pressure on the country.
Kiev has said it wants to inflict maximum economic damage on Russia by striking energy infrastructure, including oil refineries and export terminals, with Western-funded drones. On the night of Russia’s latest barrage, the Russian military said it detected 626 Ukrainian drones outside what Moscow considers the combat zone and shot down 613 of them.
1/2