Russia Ramps Up Missile Strikes on Kyiv

Russia will increase missile strikes in Kyiv in response to recent attacks by Ukrainian forces on its territory, its Ministry of Defense said on Friday.

The statement from the Kremlin comes after a night of powerful explosions in Kyiv, reportedly some of the most significant in the capital city region since Russian troops retreated from the area in early April.

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“The number and scale of missile strikes against targets in Kyiv will increase in response to the Kyiv nationalist regime committing any attacks of a terrorist nature or sabotage on Russian territory,” Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

Konashenkov claimed that on Friday, Russian Kalibr sea-based missiles struck a machine-building plant in the outskirts of Kyiv and 12 other military facilities in different parts of Ukraine.

The ministry also claimed that air defense systems shot down a Mi-8 helicopter near Chernihiv and an Su-27 fighter jet in Kharkiv.

The Russian Ministry of Defense’s claims could not be verified.

The Russian military on Wednesday threatened to strike “decision-making centers” in Kyiv if Ukrainian forces continue attacks across the border in Russia.

Ukraine claimed responsibility for a missile strike on a Russian warship in the Black Sea on Wednesday. The Moskva, the Russian navy’s Black Sea flagship, sunk on Thursday, according to Russian officials, delivering a major blow to Russia’s military.

Russian media reported on Friday that over the past day, four shellings have taken place in Russian territory on the border with Ukraine.

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The Russian Defense Ministry’s statement on Friday indicates that today’s assault on the Kyiv region may be retaliation for Ukraine’s recent strikes.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from Ukrainian officials following Friday’s explosions in Kyiv.