The Russian military has launched another extensive offensive. A large-scale missile attack targeted several Ukrainian regions on Monday morning, Reuters reports. The information comes directly from Ukrainian military officials who warn the entire country of aerial attacks. Air raid sirens are now sounding in all Ukrainian regions, including the capital.
"Kyiv, seek shelter!" urges Ukraine's Air Force on Telegram to the city's inhabitants. According to the military, ballistic missiles are being directed at Ukraine.
"Massive Attack"
Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Khmelnytskyi are also under heavy attack. "Massive missile attack," military officials emphasize.
This morning's attacks continue the severe escalation of assaults ordered by Russia's dictator Vladimir Putin since the new year. Early last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russia fired 500 missiles and drones at Ukraine in just five days.
The attacks against Kyiv at the beginning of the year were the first in five months. "They always try to find a better way to break our air defense systems and make their attack more effective," says Oleksandr Musiyenko at the Ukrainian Center for Military Law Research to BBC.
Using North Korean Weapons
Last week, US officials from the intelligence service reported that Russia is using ballistic missiles from North Korea.
"North Korea is now a weapons supplier to the war. I imagine large quantities of cheap ballistic robots for the Russian military," says Jeffrey Lewis, active at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, to Reuters.
"Deeply Concerning"
Swedish military experts also agree that North Korea's involvement is the start of a clear escalation from Russia's side. "It is a deeply worrying development," says Joakim Paasikivi, lieutenant colonel, to TV4 and adds that it gives Russia the opportunity to reach more cities than before.
The occurrence should be interpreted as a signal to the world. "It is worrying that rogue states like Iran and North Korea can continue to send weapons to Russia without it having consequences," says Joakim Paasikivi.
