A series of Russian airstrikes on Ukraine in early hours of Friday resulted in the loss of at least eight lives, including two children, while Kyiv reported successfully shooting down a Russian strategic bomber for the first time.
According to Moscow, a military aircraft crashed over southern Ukraine due to a technical malfunction while returning from a combat mission. The downing of the bomber, utilized for launching cruise missiles at Ukraine, holds significant symbolic importance for Kyiv, which has been enduring relentless aerial assaults from Russian forces since the invasion over two years ago.
The latest round of overnight strikes targeted the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, claiming the lives of eight individuals and injuring many others. Among the casualties were two children, aged six and eight, in the Synelnykivsky area. Emergency responders were swift in their actions, as depicted in photos shared by Interior Minister Igor Klymenko, showing injured individuals being evacuated on stretchers.
In response to the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated calls for Western allies to provide air defense systems, emphasizing their crucial role in safeguarding Ukrainian communities. Zelensky underscored the significance of deploying these systems actively to counter ongoing threats, praising any assistance in enhancing Ukraine’s defense capabilities as life-saving.
