In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russia launched a major missile and drone attack on multiple Ukrainian regions during the night of August 25, 2024. The attack targeted the Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Donetsk regions, employing a variety of weapons including Iskander-K and Iskander-M missiles, X-59/X-69 guided air-to-ground missiles, and Shahed-type drones.According to General Nikolai Oleschuk, commander of the Ukrainian Air Forces, most of the missiles were intercepted by Ukraine’s air defense systems. Out of nine Shahed drones launched from the Crimean peninsula, eight were reportedly shot down by mobile fire groups in the Mykolaiv region.Despite the interceptions, the attacks caused significant damage and casualties. In Kharkiv, six people were injured, including a 4-year-old child, when a gas pipeline was hit. In Chuguev, five people, including two children, were injured when a private building was struck. The city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region also suffered damage to multi-story buildings and private homes, with several people injured, including one in critical condition.In an apparent retaliation, Ukraine reportedly launched an attack on the Russian Belgorod region. Governor Vasily Gladkov reported that five civilians were killed and twelve injured in the village of Rakitnoe. The attack also damaged ten private homes, two commercial buildings, and a gas pipeline, leaving several villages without gas.The escalation in attacks from both sides marks a worrying trend in the conflict, now in its 914th day. The use of advanced weaponry and the targeting of civilian areas raise concerns about the potential for further escalation and the impact on civilian populations in the affected regions.
Key points
- Russia launched a major missile and drone attack on multiple Ukrainian regions, including Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Donetsk.
- Ukrainian air defense systems intercepted most of the Russian missiles and drones.
- Ukraine reportedly attacked the Russian Belgorod region, resulting in five civilian deaths and twelve injuries.
- Both sides reported damage to infrastructure and civilian areas, with injuries and fatalities.
Contradictions👾While most sources report successful interception of Russian missiles and drones by Ukrainian air defense, there are varying accounts of the extent of damage and casualties in different regions.
