Russia attacks Kiev with 31 missiles and Zelensky calls for more air defense: marking the 767th day of war in Ukraine

“This terror continues day and night” stated the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, referring to the Russian air strike that hit the Ukrainian capital early this Thursday.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, all 31 cruise and ballistic missiles that Russia fired were reportedly destroyed, in what was the first Russian missile strike against Kiev in the last 44 days. Missile fragments ended up hit multiple buildings in at least three neighborhoods of the Ukrainian capital and 13 people were injuredaccording to the balance of local authorities.

On the social network X (formerly Twitter), the Ukrainian President appealed to Western countries who have “political will” to help Ukraine confront Russia and send more anti-aircraft systems. In the same publication, Zelensky mentioned the Patriot missiles that are supplied by the United States and reinforced that Russian forces do not have missiles capable of bypassing this type of anti-aircraft system.

In another post on the same social network, Zelensky said that “cEvery terrorist attack carried out by Russia demonstrates that Global sanctions against Putin’s regime remain insufficient”. The Ukrainian President accused, without naming names, some countries of producing the missiles used by Russia and which are transported to the country through “dubious schemes”.

“It is imperative to block such schemes and those who support them. More sanctions are needed. There must be greater accountability for sanctions evasion schemes.” According to Zelensky, this Thursday alone, “more than 1500 components brought from normal countries into the terrorist state.”

Also this Thursday, three people died and others were injured in Russian air strikes against several cities in Ukraine, in addition to Kiev. In the city of Kherson, one person died after the building where he was located was hit by Russian missiles, according to Oleksander Prokudin, the city’s governor.

In Mykolaiv, one person died and six others were injured as a result of several airstrikes in the region. The third fatality was recorded in the city of Novokhrodivka, located in the province of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, following a Russian attack, according to the region’s governor, Vadim Filashkin.

Faced with constant Russian attacks on the country, the Ukrainian Prime Minister, Denys Shmygal, estimates that it will take around 450 billion euros so that Ukraine can recover from the damage caused. Shmygal, further argued that frozen Russian assets should serve to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine. Also, Volodymyr Zelensky considers this to be the most “fair” to “restore life in Ukraine”.

The Ukrainian Prime Minister also spoke about the measures that can be taken when “Ukraine is declared the winner of the war”. Shmygal, spoke of the possibility of imposing a “special tax on Russian resources” – such as oil and gas.

OTHER NEWS THAT MARKED THE DAY

⇒ O Secretary General of NATO warned, this Thursday, of the Kiev forces lack of ammunition and stressed that the “situation on the battlefield remains very difficult”. Jens Stoltenberg, recalled that member countries must “be capable of increasing defense spending when tensions worsen”. At the same press conference, the secretary-general revealed that “new measures” are planned to strengthen support for Ukraine and will be adopted after the Washington summit in July.

⇒ Various pro-Ukrainian Russian groups, guaranteed that, will expand their military incursions into Russian territory, demanding the opening of “a second front” in the conflict. One of the leaders of the various groups stated that one of his objectives is to “raise the flag” of his group in the Kremlin and establish a “nationalist-oriented government” in Moscow. Members of these groups ensure that the fight will be extended to “other Russian cities”.

⇒ A Russia claimed, this Thursday, to have conquered the village of Tonenké, west of the city of Avdiïvka, Ukraine. The Russian Defense Minister stated that the village was “liberated thanks to the coordinated actions of the units of the central group of troops.”Russian forces are also prepare an offensive towards the villages of Semenivka and Umanske, according to the Telegram channel Rybar close to the Russian army

⇒ The head of the Kiev Armed ForcesOleksandr Sirski, stated this Thursday that Ukrainian troops managed to stabilize the situation on the eastern frontsat a time when these soldiers face a lack of ammunition to fight Russian forces.

You can review everything that happened on the 766th day of the war here.

Article by Mariana Jerónimo, edited by Mafalda Ganhão