Two Russian airstrikes in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region resulted in the deaths of eight people, including two children. One attack targeted the main city of Dnipro, hitting a train station and a five-story building, while the other struck homes in Synelnykove, further east. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the importance of cities having adequate air defenses following the attack.
In a separate incident, Ukraine claimed to have shot down a long-range Russian bomber for the first time. The airstrikes in Synelnykove killed six people, including an eight-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, with several others injured. The attack in Dnipro resulted in two deaths and 19 injuries, including a railway worker. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with concerns that the number of casualties may increase.
Ukraine has been facing a shortage of weapons capable of defending against Russian missiles and drones, prompting calls for urgent military aid from NATO. Meanwhile, a $60.8 billion US military aid package has been stalled in Congress, but there are efforts to bring it to a vote soon.
In a significant development, the Ukrainian air force reported bringing down a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber, which had launched a missile strike on Ukraine before crashing in Russia’s Stavropol region. This follows a pattern of Ukrainian forces targeting Russian military aircraft, including a previous incident in January.
The Tu-22M3 bomber is known for carrying Kh-22 missiles used in attacks on Ukrainian cities. The recent downing of two Kh-22 missiles marks a significant achievement for Ukraine’s air defense capabilities. Despite Russia attributing the bomber’s crash to technical issues, the incident underscores the escalating tensions between the two countries.
