On May 18, Russia attacked Ukrainian City of Odesa and Kharkiv, killing two civilians and leaving five others injured as per the local Ukrainian authorities. As per local media, a residential building was hit directly in the village of Tsyrkuny situated in the northeastern Kharkiv Oblast. As per Oleh Syniehubov, the Governor, a 52-year-old man was also killed in the attack, and two more were injured and as of now, all the people who were injured have been hospitalised.

Since the special military operation commenced on Feb 24 last year, Kharkiv has been under massive attack from Russian air forces due to its proximity to the Russian border. According to Serhii Bratchuk, a Russian overnight missile attack on Odesa killed one and injured three people.

As per Ukrainian authorities, Russia launched numerous missile attacks against Ukraine at around 9:00 p.m. on May 17 which lasted till early 5:30 a.m. on May 18. The attack included firing 22 long-range X-101/X-555 missiles from two Tu-160s and eight Tu-95s, 6 Kalibr cruise missiles fired from the Black Sea. Additionally, 2 Iskander missiles from ground-based operational-tactical missile systems were also launched against Kyiv.

As per the General Staff, the Air Defense of Ukraine allegedly downed 29 out of 30 Russian missiles, two kamikaze drones, and two reconnaissance drones. These attacks once again proved that the main target of the Russian Forces was Kyiv. According to Kyiv Oblast Chief of Police, Andrii Nebytov, the attack had no significant damage and nor were there any casualties.

The previous mass attack came on 16th May, during which Ukrainian air defence successfully shot down 25 missiles targeting the Ukrainian territory overnight in which 6 Kinzhal ballistic missiles were also fired. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces stated that it recorded 23 airstrikes and 36 shelling over the past one day against Ukraine’s  armed forces and civilian and military settlements.

As per the Ukrainian military, Russian forces also attacked Sumy, Chernihiv, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts on 18th May.

Continue Reading on The India Saga.