Arabic version: ضربة صاروخية من بوتين على كييف تثير إدانة دولية

Ukraine faced a significant escalation in violence as Russian forces launched a missile strike on Kyiv, utilizing the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile. This attack, described by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as reflecting Moscow’s ‘reckless nuclear brinkmanship,’ resulted in at least four fatalities and approximately 100 injuries. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, condemned the strikes, emphasizing that they are acts of terrorism aimed at civilian targets.

According to The Guardian, Kaja Kallas criticized the use of such missiles, which are capable of carrying nuclear warheads, as a political maneuver by Russia in light of its military setbacks on the battlefield. She stated that these attacks are designed to instill fear among the Ukrainian populace.

The strikes also caused damage to the World Health Organization’s offices in Kyiv, although there were no reported injuries among UN personnel. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that debris from the attack damaged windows in the building, which houses multiple UN agencies.

In response to the ongoing violence, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and French President Emmanuel Macron both condemned the missile strikes, with Macron specifically warning Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko against further involvement in the conflict. This warning came during a recent phone call, marking the first communication between the two since the invasion began in February 2022.

As the conflict escalates, the situation remains tense, with Ukraine also launching drone attacks on Russian targets. The Ukrainian SBU security service reported a successful strike on an oil pumping station in Russia’s Vladimir region, highlighting the ongoing military exchanges between the two nations.