On the 1,007th day of the war, Ukrainian authorities have reported that Russia launched a record attack with 188 drones over their territory: 76 were shot down, while the air force admitted losing track of a hundred.
The mayor of Kiev had earlier reported that the capital was the target of the intense attack. "Anti-aircraft defense forces are operating in different areas of the city. (Drones) are entering the capital from different directions," stated Vitali Klitschko.
Furthermore, Russia's nighttime airstrikes damaged the power grid in Ternopil, in the western part of the country, causing power and water outages in the city. The electrical supply interruptions have forced the use of generators for schools, hospitals, and government institutions.
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that their defenses shot down 39 Ukrainian drones overnight across seven regions, with 24 of them in the Rostov area.
Medvedev warns the West against transferring nuclear weapons to Ukraine
Former Russian President and current Vice President of the Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, has cautioned the West that if it supplies nuclear weapons to Ukraine, Moscow may consider such a transfer as an attack on Russia, potentially triggering a nuclear response.
The New York Times reported last week that some unidentified Western officials had suggested that U.S. President Joe Biden might provide nuclear weapons to Ukraine, although there were concerns about the serious implications of such a move.
"U.S. politicians and journalists are seriously discussing the consequences of transferring nuclear weapons to Kiev," Medvedev wrote on Telegram. "The actual transfer of such weapons can be equated to a fait accompli of an attack against our country," he stated, citing Russia's recently updated nuclear doctrine.
Ukraine denounces a record attack by Russia with 188 drones
Ukraine announced on Tuesday that it was targeted by a Russian attack overnight with a record number of 188 combat drones that, according to Kiev, damaged residential buildings and "essential infrastructure."
Ukrainian forces claimed to have shot down 76 of the drones, while a hundred lost their way due to electronic warfare interference by the Army. "During the nighttime attack, the enemy launched a record number of combat drones Shahed and unidentified," as well as four Iskander-M ballistic missiles, stated the Ukrainian Air Force.
The drones destroyed in the air were shot down over the territory of 17 regions across the country. The unmanned aircraft were launched from areas in the Russian Federation near the Ukrainian border.
"Unfortunately, there are impacts on critical infrastructures and, due to the massive drone attack, there is also damage to homes and residential buildings in several regions," the report reads, noting that no deaths or injuries have been reported from the attack so far.
NATO-Ukraine Council meets to discuss new Russian missile
The Council between NATO countries and Ukraine is holding a meeting at the ambassadorial level on Tuesday to address Russia's recent use of an experimental hypersonic missile against Ukrainian territory. Russia launched that medium-range missile (named "Oreshnik") without nuclear warheads last Thursday against the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.
Shortly after, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the missile launch was a response to the U.S. authorization for Ukraine to use long-range missiles provided to attack targets in Russian territory. Moscow also revised its nuclear doctrine, asserting that a massive attack on Russian territory with conventional weapons supported by a hostile nuclear power could justify the use of nuclear weapons.
Following the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Western powers for updated anti-aircraft defense systems.
Damage to the power grid in Ternopil
Russian airstrikes overnight damaged the power grid in Ternopil, a major city in western Ukraine, causing electricity and water outages. Emergency services were working to restore water supply early in the morning, but power supply disruptions will continue for hours.
Electric buses serving the city will be replaced by regular buses, and generators will assist with the energy shortage in schools, hospitals, and government institutions, authorities reported.
Russia destroys 39 Ukrainian drones
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that anti-aircraft defense systems destroyed 39 Ukrainian drones overnight across seven regions, with 24 of them destroyed in the Rostov region in southern Russia.
New drone attack over Kiev
Kiev has experienced a continued drone attack, as reported by the city's mayor, Vitali Klitschko. "The UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) attack on the capital continues. Anti-aircraft defense forces are operating in different areas of the city. (Drones) are entering the capital from different directions," he wrote on Telegram.
Additionally, the head of the military administration in Kiev, Serhiy Popko, stated that Russian drones approached Kiev in waves and from different directions, but there were no damages or injuries resulting from the attack. He also specified that air defense units destroyed over 10 Russian drones, as reported by Reuters.