Kyiv: In a pre-dawn attack on Sunday, Russian drones targeted the Black Sea city of Mykolaiv, causing significant damage to a hotel and essential energy infrastructure, as reported by the local Ukrainian governor. Meanwhile, ammunition shortages continue to pose challenges for Kyiv’s troops amidst the ongoing conflict, now spanning over two years.
Vitaliy Kim, governor of Ukraine’s southern Mykolaiv province, confirmed that Russian drones inflicted serious damage to a hotel in the city, resulting in a blaze that was subsequently extinguished. Additionally, the strike caused harm to heat-generating facilities, although specific details were not provided. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties from the incident.
Russian state agency RIA claimed that the attack on Mykolaiv targeted a shipyard involved in assembling naval drones, along with a hotel housing “English-speaking mercenaries” supporting Kyiv. However, this assertion, attributed to Sergei Lebedev, a purported coordinator of local pro-Moscow guerrillas, remains unverified.
Simultaneously, the Russian Defense Ministry disclosed that 17 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight across four regions in the country’s southwest. Among these, three drones were intercepted near an oil depot in Lyudinovo, an industrial town situated approximately 230 kilometers (143 miles) north of the Ukrainian border, according to Governor Vladislav Shapsha. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
Russian shelling on Saturday and into Sunday inflicted injuries on at least seven civilians across Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials.
Also Read | Indian Ocean Faces Decades of Heatwave Conditions, Study Warns
Fierce clashes have erupted in recent weeks in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions as Russian forces intensify efforts to make gains along the extensive front line. However, ammunition shortages are increasingly impeding Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.
While Washington rushes to provide much-needed arms to Ukraine through a substantial aid package, the Institute for the Study of War predicts that Russian troops are likely to make significant gains in the coming weeks. However, it is assessed that these advances are unlikely to cause Kyiv’s defensive lines to collapse.
U.S. President Joe Biden’s announcement of immediate weapon shipments to Ukraine marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict, signaling robust support from the international community amidst escalating tensions.
