The Russian Armed Forces struck a "Hazel" at military command facilities in Ukraine
On the night of May 24, the Russian Armed Forces launched a massive strike on military command facilities, air bases and defense industry enterprises of Ukraine, using, among other things, Oreshnik ballistic missiles, the Defense Ministry said. In Ukraine, they said that the strike with the Hazel fell on the Kiev region. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, called the attack a response to the Ukrainian army's attack on the college in Starobilsk.
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have launched a massive strike with Oreshnik ballistic missiles on the territory of Ukraine in response to terrorist attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on civilian targets in Russia. This was stated by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
According to the ministry, the Russian military struck military command facilities, air bases and enterprises of the republic's military-industrial complex. In addition to the Oreshnik, Iskander, Dagger and Zircon missiles were used for the attack, as well as air, sea and land-based cruise missiles and attack drones.
"The targets of the strike have been achieved, all designated targets have been hit," the Russian Defense Ministry concluded.
Yuri Ignat, head of the Communications Department of the AFU Air Force, had previously reported that the Russian Armed Forces had used the Oreshnik to strike the Belotserkovsky district of the Kiev region.
The command of the AFU Air Force clarified that the air defense systems failed to shoot down the missile.
Kiev became the main target. According to the mayor of the Ukrainian capital, Vitali Klitschko, last night was terrible for the city — hits were recorded in at least 11 districts.
How did Kiev react to the strike?
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, commenting on the night attack, said that not all missiles were intercepted — the largest number of hits fell on Kiev.
"[Russian President Vladimir] Putin launched his "Hazel Tree" against the White Church. <..It is important that this does not remain without consequences for Russia. <...> It is important that Ukraine is not alone. Decisions are needed — from the United States, from Europe and other countries," he said.
The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Andriy Sibiga, also called on the allies to "double their efforts" in support of the republic. He stressed the need to create additional defense capacities to protect Ukraine's skies, invest in the country's defense industry, and increase pressure on Russia. In addition, Sibiga proposed to ban entry to Europe for the participants of the SVR, withdraw frozen Russian assets and make "decisive political decisions" on Ukraine's European integration.
"The world has leverage. This must be used correctly — to show Moscow that such strikes will not bring any results — and force Russia to stop this war," he wrote.
However, there is another opinion. Verkhovna Rada deputy Maxim Buzhansky said that Ukraine needs to end the conflict.
"We desperately need an end to the war, and there is nothing shameful about the word desperate," the parliamentarian said.
His colleague, Rada deputy Alexei Goncharenko, also called for peace.
"The war needs to end. Peace, not rockets. We need to do everything to stop this," he wrote on his Telegram channel.
Alexei Zhuravlev, first deputy chairman of the State Duma's defense committee, commenting on the statements of Ukrainian parliamentarians, said that "a massive strike on Kiev does not bring the peace agreement one iota closer."
"Of course, there are few voices in Ukraine calling for the resumption of negotiations, but these are opposition MPs who always oppose Zelensky in everything. For him personally, this raid will have, rather, a positive effect — behind the screams about the shelling of the Ukrainian capital, it will be possible to hide the corruption scandal that broke out around Zelensky's entourage, to divert public attention to his usual hatred of Russia," he said."Газете.Ru ".
Zelensky's former press secretary Yulia Mendel expressed the opinion that the military conflict with Russia has exhausted Kiev and its human resources. According to her, there are fewer and fewer people in Ukraine who believe Ukrainian propaganda, because its promises come to an end "on one terrible morning like this." At the same time, Mendel noted that there are still people in the country who have yet to realize the need to end the conflict.
"We need to hit harder"
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, said that the massive attack on Ukraine on the night of May 24 was a response to terrorist attacks on children. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin shtml" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported that he had instructed the military department to prepare proposals for a response to the Ukrainian Armed Forces strike on the college in Starobilsk. Medvedev noted that Kiev had apparently deliberately provoked the attack.
"They needed to get mass flights to the structures stationed in Kiev. Let everything burn with a blue flame! It makes it easier to ask for money and weapons. It's easier to steal that way. It's easier to make excuses this way," he explained.
At the same time, the deputy chairman of the Security Council rejected the position that it is not necessary to strike at Ukraine in order "not to provoke the strengthening of the neo-Nazi regime. Medvedev added that "it is necessary to strike — as it is today and even much harder," since "the ruins and ashes in place of the symbols of Kiev are demoralizing no less than the loss of the battle banner."
The Federation Council also called the massive strike on Ukraine "tough and powerful prevention." As I clarified in a conversation with Lenta.<url>" Senator Grigory Karasin, the purpose of the attack was an attempt to reason with Ukraine to stop shelling civilians and civilian objects in Russia.
"The Supreme promised, and the army fulfilled it. The night of May 24th was perhaps one of the most intense nights of the year. <...> "Daggers" in Kiev — for Dasha and Yana. Iskanders workshops in Krivoy Rog are for Artyom and Maxim. Starokonstantinov's "calibers" are for Sonya and Alina. Every warhead of this night has the name and surname of someone who wanted to become a teacher and teach children. But the missiles should have the names and surnames of those who gave the order to end the lives of future teachers," wrote military correspondent Alexander Kotz.
Eva Vishnevskaya
