Once again, last night saw Russia launch massive drone and missile strikes across Ukraine, in what was one of its largest barrages in recent months. Coming so soon after Moscow’s two massive air raids last month on Kyiv and other major cities, it marks a dramatic switch to a high-risk strategy to end the four-year war in the next few weeks.
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, overnight Russia launched 656 attack drones and 73 ballistic, cruise, and anti-ship missiles. That comes after firing 2,300 attack drones, 1,560 glide bombs and 108 ballistic missiles at the Ukrainian capital and other provincial centres last month.
Russia appears to be opening up a new “war for the cities”, targeting political and cultural centres, including art collections and museums, as well as banking and business centres. The aim is to demoralise the Ukrainian population, attempt to decapitate the government – yet again, and drive off foreign advisers, investors and supporters. Prior to the big attacks on Kyiv, starting on the weekends of 16 and 23 May, Moscow warned all members of foreign embassies to get out of town while they could. Almost all stayed put.
In the second big raid, the Russians fired the new Oreshnik hypersonic missile – for only the third time in the Ukrainian war so far. The Oreshnik has been billed as a wonder weapon – capable of speeds of Mach 10, 7,673 miles an hour. This means it will evade defence missiles like the Patriot. It can carry a variety of warheads and has nuclear potential.
