Russia has declared a new military campaign with the largest air raid on Ukraine in three years. This terrible attack has so far taken the lives of at least twelve people, including three children, and injured many more. The latest attack, which occurred overnight from Saturday into Sunday, did this by firing off 298 drones and 69 missiles in several simultaneous waves, exhausting Ukrainian air defenses.
FILE – Damaged vehicles lay at the scene of an overnight attack by Russian forces, in the town of Kostiantynivka, Ukraine, Sept. 6, 2023. To add to the drama, Russian security officials said they had shot down a dozen drones that were allegedly on their way to Moscow. The day the tanks rolled in happened to be the day of Kyiv Day, one of the biggest annual celebrations in the capital. Amid the ongoing onslaught, civilians sprinted to find shelter in bomb shelters, subway tunnels, and cellars.
As this brutal, three-year-long war drags on, the new airstrikes mark a disturbing escalation of violence. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, denounced the attacks as war crimes and called for greater international efforts to end Russia’s aggression.
“Every such terrorist Russian strike is reason enough for new sanctions against Russia.” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
That’s what Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, expressed. He cautioned that unless there was constant political pressure from the international community, Russia and its allies would continue to advance their military capabilities.
“Without pressure, nothing will change and Russia and its allies will only build up forces for such murders in Western countries.” – Andriy Yermak
Yermak stressed the fact that Russia will continue fighting as long as it has the ability to produce arms. Unfortunately, this statement does not bode well for a peaceful resolution of the war.
“Moscow will fight as long as it has the ability to produce weapons.” – Andriy Yermak
In addition to ruining festivities, the air raid reminded many that the ongoing humanitarian toll of the war, particularly on civilians, still weighs heavily. Fresh strikes impacted the western city of Lviv as well as civilian infrastructure across Ukraine. This latest escalation adds to the fears of civilians who have endured tremendous suffering during this war from the outset.
U.S. President Joe Biden has so far failed to make a public statement since the recent large-scale attacks. Former President Donald Trump has made a concerted effort to tout his own past peace efforts. He decided not to sanction Russia further when they rejected a proposal for an immediate ceasefire.
It’s all changing very quickly so it remains a fluid situation. Meanwhile, on Saturday, Ukraine and Russia carried out another mass prisoner exchange – the latest reminder of the human cost of the war. The Ukrainian government continues to navigate the complexities of international relations while addressing the immediate needs of its citizens amid ongoing violence.