Russia launches weekend record aerial attack on Ukraine : NPR
Russia has launched the largest air assault on Ukraine Sunday since the start of the large -scale invasion, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
Michel Martin, host:
This weekend, the Ukrainian Air Force said that the Russian forces had launched the greatest air assault on Ukraine since the start of the large-scale invasion of Russia.
Leila Fadel, host:
Russia has bombed Ukrainian cities more often in recent months, and this battlefield remains a bloody war of endlessly in sight.
Martin: The correspondent in NPR Ukraine, Joanna Kakissis, is online with us now from kyiv to tell us more. Hello, Joanna.
Joanna Kakissis, byline: Hello, Michel
Martin: So tell us about this weekend air strikes. What happened?
Kakissis: Well, the Ukrainian Air Force told us that this attack was the greatest of the war due to the number of weapons used. Russia has drawn more than 500 drones, missiles and guided air bombs in several Ukrainian cities and regions. About half were shot. In kyiv, we were widely spared this time, but the capital was targeted several times, including earlier this month, when 28 people were killed.
Martin: And was someone injured this time?
Kakissis: Yes. At least six civilians died across the country and at least a dozen were injured. Companies, residential areas and public services have been damaged. The Air Force also lost an F-16 fighter plane and its pilot, Maksym USTYMENKO, 32, who shot seven air targets before the drop in his plane.
Martin: Wow. Russia therefore obviously increases its attacks against Ukraine. How do Ukrainian cities protect themselves?
Kakissis: Here in kyiv, the army generally draws attack drones using anti -aircraft missiles. They also have these machine gunners who move on trucks. And in another city that has often struck the southern port of Odesa, the navy uses mobile air defense units on boats in the Black Sea. We recently drove with one of the speed boat units and spoke with the crew, including the pirat or the pirate. We only use its call to the request of the Ukrainian army, which cites security reasons. Pirate always wears a photo of his wife and baby.
Pirat: (not spoken English language).
Kakissis: He says that the crew celebrates whenever they put a drone because it means that the drone will not hit a neighborhood. And a drone recently hit the house of his own family. Now, I should add Michel, that military experts say that Russia uses these air attacks to exhaust the supply to Ukraine in air defense ammunition.
Martin: You know, Joanna, Odesa and even Kyiv are not so close to the front line. So how do Ukraine’s attempt to defend its territory on the ground?
Kakissis: Well, Michel, it was very difficult for the land forces of Ukraine. The front line extends over hundreds of kilometers, and the Russians make additional gains growing further west in Ukraine. But I must say that in this rhythm, it would take years from Russia to conquer Ukraine, and war has also cost Russia. The British Defense Ministry believes that more than a million Russian soldiers were killed or injured during the large -scale war.
Martin: So, in the midst of all, Joanna, is there a hope for a cease-fire?
Kakissis: Well, not for the moment. Representatives of Ukraine and Russia met in Istanbul and have accepted exchanges of prisoners but no ceasefire. And in another sign that this war will not end soon, the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has just signed a decree withdrawing his country from the Ottawa Treaty, which prohibits the production and use of anti -personnel land mines. Now he says that land mines are defense instruments against Russia, and some other countries bordering Russia have also said they would withdraw from the treaty. By the way, Russia has not signed this treaty and has largely used anti -personnel mines.
Martin: It’s Joanna Kakissis from NPR to Kyiv. Joanna, thank you.
Kakissis: You are welcome.
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