Russian air attacks kill 12 in Kyiv region, on sixth day of strikes

Russian air strikes have claimed the lives of 12 individuals and wounded others in Kyiv and the surrounding area on Tuesday, marking the sixth consecutive day of attacks on the Ukrainian capital, according to authorities. Russia, which initiated its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has intensified its aerial assaults against Ukraine as its battlefield gains have diminished significantly.

In the past five days, swarms of drones have plagued Kyiv and nearby regions, resulting in fatalities, home damage, and warehouse destruction. Many of these drones are advanced versions, equipped with jet engines, making them more challenging to intercept. These nearly incessant attacks have disrupted daily routines for millions, with prolonged air-raid alerts kept residents on high alert.

Further explosions were reported in the capital early Tuesday morning, a Reuters witness reported. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha disclosed that Russian drones and ballistic missiles had specifically targeted residential areas and railway infrastructure during the intense overnight strikes. He advocated for Ukraine’s allies to intensify economic pressure on Russia and to reopen discussions about utilizing Russia's frozen overseas assets to fund Ukraine's war efforts.

"It is time to signal (to) the Kremlin that imitating diplomacy does not work anymore," Sybiha stated on X, urging allies to provide Ukraine with additional air defenses, as they are critically low on the United States-made Patriot interceptors capable of countering Russia's ballistic missiles.