Russia escalates attack on Ukraine, hits Kyiv with major drone and missile strikes

Russia on Wednesday (Nov 13) escalated its assault on Ukraine, launching a barrage of drones and missiles, marking its first combined aerial attack on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in over two months.

This escalation comes amid critical developments on the battlefield, with Russian forces advancing in eastern Ukraine and fresh concerns about the future of American aid to Kyiv following Republican candidate Donald Trump’s election victory.

Moscow's attack

The pre-dawn barrage sent explosions echoing across Kyiv and saw residents seeking shelter in an underground metro station.

Kyiv officials reported one injury in the suburb of Brovary, where debris from a downed drone struck a man. Emergency crews released images of firefighters extinguishing flames at various impact sites.

Simultaneously, the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson, which Russia claims as part of its territory, faced a separate drone attack, resulting in the death of a 52-year-old woman, according to the region's governor. Air raid alarms in Kyiv began sounding around 04:30 GMT, warning of an impending missile strike.

“As missiles were approaching Kyiv, the enemy simultaneously launched a ballistic missile attack on the capital. The enemy attack ended with another drone strike,” said the city authorities.

Just a day earlier, a Russian strike on President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown claimed the lives of a young mother and her three children.

Before that, last week, both Russia and Ukraine launched record overnight drone strikes against each other.

Ukraine, for months, has been urgently calling for more air defence systems from Western allies to counter these increasingly aggressive attacks by Russia. However, now with Trump's win in the United States the aid which Kyiv has been receiving from the US is in peril, as the president-elect has been known to call the assistance a drain on American resources.

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photosandvideos.