Russia unleashes huge missile and drone attacks on Kyiv

{"text":[[{"start":6.75,"text":"Russia launched waves of missiles and attack drones against Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in the early hours of Thursday, shortly after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of an impending large-scale aerial assault. "}],[{"start":19.7,"text":"Dozens of building-shaking blasts reverberated across the capital Kyiv, sending residents dashing to bomb shelters and underground metro stations shortly after midnight. "}],[{"start":30.1,"text":"Five people were killed in Kyiv and 34 others were injured, 32 of them requiring hospitalisation, according to mayor Vitali Klitschko. "}],[{"start":39.2,"text":"Residential buildings were damaged, the roof of a hotel in the city centre was on fire and the top floors of a high-rise apartment building were engulfed in flames, trapping residents, Klitschko said. An ambulance station was also hit, injuring several first responders, including one critically."}],[{"start":56.300000000000004,"text":"Klitschko said a nine-storey apartment block had partially collapsed after taking a direct missile strike."}],[{"start":62.900000000000006,"text":"The Ukrainian Air Force reported that more than 20 ballistic and cruise missiles were launched at Kyiv in the first two hours of the bombardment. Attacks were also reported in cities in eastern and southern Ukraine. "}],[{"start":75.25,"text":"Russia has increased its production and use of ballistic missiles in combination with drone attacks, exploiting Ukraine’s lack of Patriot air-defence systems."}],[{"start":84.75,"text":"The US-made systems and interceptor missiles are the only weapons in Kyiv’s arsenal capable of shooting down Russian ballistic missiles, and Zelenskyy has pleaded for months for more Patriots from Ukraine’s western partners. "}],[{"start":98.85,"text":"On Wednesday, he warned Ukrainians “to be especially careful — stay safe and protect your families and children — be sure to take shelter and pay attention to air-raid alerts in Ukraine”."}],[{"start":110.89999999999999,"text":"“We know that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has been preparing a massive strike against Ukraine for some time,” Zelenskyy said as he wrapped up a visit to Ireland. “That is exactly the threat we are facing tonight.”"}],[{"start":123.39999999999999,"text":"The full extent of the casualties was not immediately known but Klitschko said emergency services were responding to several sites where residents were believed to be trapped inside buildings and under rubble."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":135.25,"text":"The onslaught came two weeks after another strike on Kyiv that killed at least five people and damaged the 950-year-old Kyiv-Pechersk monastery. "}],[{"start":144.8,"text":"It also comes as Ukraine has intensified its own drone campaign against oil and gas infrastructure and military targets inside Russia and occupied Crimea. "}],[{"start":155.20000000000002,"text":"Zelenskyy said last week that Ukraine was launching “a 40-day influence operation” to be carried out by Kyiv’s long-range strike units “aimed at compelling [Russia] to end the war”."}],[{"start":165.75000000000003,"text":"Those long-range drone attacks have brought the Kremlin’s war closer to home and caused fuel shortages across Russia."}],[{"start":173.15000000000003,"text":"Putin conceded this week that the “strikes on our infrastructure sites are creating problems”. "}],[{"start":178.50000000000003,"text":"An escalating Ukrainian middle-strike drone campaign targeting Russian military logistics, depots and supply lines in southern Ukraine on the Crimean peninsula has also stifled Moscow’s ground forces."}],[{"start":191.95000000000002,"text":"Putin said he would not back down from his maximalist objectives in the war, insisting that Russian forces would press ahead with a grinding ground offensive in eastern Ukraine, despite suffering heavy casualties."}],[{"start":204.85000000000002,"text":"“Russia’s head is completely refusing to end the war,” Zelenskyy said of Putin late on Wednesday. “He sees only further aggression against Ukraine and against other neighbours and Europe as a whole.”"}],[{"start":222.05,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1782969872_9946.mp3"}