…By Joseph Benjamin for TDPel Media.
Russia has carried out a series of air strikes on cities across Ukraine, killing at least five people, including a mother and her two-year-old daughter, according to officials.
Vladimir Putin’s forces fired over 20 cruise missiles and two drones at Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine early on Friday, as per Ukraine’s claims.
Air raid sirens sounded around the capital in the first attack against the city in nearly two months.
Ukraine’s air force intercepted 11 cruise missiles and two unmanned aerial vehicles over Kyiv, but fragments from intercepted missiles or drones damaged power lines and a road in one neighborhood.
No casualties were reported in the capital.
Attack on Dnipro and Uman
However, a 31-year-old woman and her two-year-old daughter were killed in the eastern city of Dnipro in another attack, and four people were wounded, with a private home and business damaged.
Additionally, two cruise missiles hit a residential building and storage facilities in Uman, around 134 miles south of Kyiv, resulting in the death of three people and eight injuries.
Emergency service workers were at the site, and local media shared footage and photos from the multi-story building that caught fire with several floors destroyed.
NATO allies send military aid to Ukraine
The attack came as NATO announced that its allies and partner countries have delivered more than 98% of the combat vehicles promised to Ukraine during Russia’s invasion and war, strengthening Kyiv’s capabilities as it contemplates launching a counteroffensive.
Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that Ukraine’s allies have sent “vast amounts of ammunition” and trained and equipped more than nine new Ukrainian brigades, with more than 30,000 troops estimated to make up the new brigades.
Stoltenberg believes that this will put Ukraine in a strong position to continue to retake occupied territory.
Analysis:
The air strikes carried out by Russia in Ukraine are a concerning escalation of tensions between the two countries.
The death of a mother and her two-year-old daughter is a tragic reminder of the devastating impact of warfare on civilians.
The attack on Kyiv is the first in nearly two months, indicating that the conflict is far from over.
The air raids on Ukraine come amid rising tensions between the two countries following Russia’s troop buildup near the border.
NATO’s announcement of providing military aid to Ukraine shows the organization’s support for the country’s efforts to defend itself against Russian aggression.
The aid provided by NATO allies will help Ukraine strengthen its military capabilities and prepare for a possible counteroffensive.
However, this aid is likely to further escalate tensions between NATO and Russia.
The lack of peace prospects between Russia and Ukraine is alarming, and the involvement of China in the situation adds another layer of complexity to the conflict.
While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Chinese leader Xi Jinping held a phone call recently, the conversation did not improve peace prospects.
China’s refusal to criticize Moscow’s invasion and its diplomatic alliance with Russia makes it challenging to bring peace to the region.
The situation in Ukraine is a reminder of the devastating impact of war on civilians and the importance of diplomatic solutions to resolve conflicts.