Russian Airstrike in Sumy Leaves 8 Dead, Dozens Injured
This attack was part of Russia’s extensive drone and missile offensive, characterized as the most substantial in the recent months.
Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko reported that two children were among the eight fatalities in Sumy, a city located 40 kilometers (24 miles) away from the Russian border.
Biden Approves Long-Range Missiles for Ukraine as Zelenskyy Responds with Restraint Amid Ongoing Russian Aggression
Mr. Klymenko expressed that each life lost due to Russia is a significant tragedy.
On November 17, 2024, Biden approved Ukraine’s use of US-supplied long-range missiles to target sites within Russia.
For the second occasion, the United States has authorized the deployment of Western weaponry within Russian borders, albeit under restrictions.
Ukraine responded with notable restraint to the long-anticipated decision from the United States.
Zelenskyy stated that actions speak louder than words, emphasizing the missiles’ effectiveness in delivering Ukraine’s message.
The attack featured a variety of drones, such as Shaheds made in Iran, along with cruise, ballistic, and aircraft-launched ballistic missiles.
According to Ukraine’s air force, Ukrainian defenses successfully intercepted 144 out of 210 air targets, as reported on Sunday.
Mr. Zelenskyy mentioned that the energy infrastructure across Ukraine was the prime focus of the enemy. Regrettably, the attacks caused damage to various structures due to direct hits and debris. In Mykolaiv, two individuals lost their lives, and six others, including two children, sustained injuries following a drone assault.
Two more individuals died in the Odesa region after the assault damaged energy infrastructure, causing power and water outages.
Serhii Popko reported that the recent drone and missile attack was the strongest offensive in Kyiv in three months.
A single individual sustained injuries when a blaze engulfed the roof of a residential building spanning five stories in Kyiv’s historic center, as reported by Popko.
The private energy company DTEK reported that a thermal power plant under its operation suffered significant damage.
Ukrainian authorities have consistently called on Western partners to enhance the nation’s air defense capabilities in order to fend off the attacks and facilitate restoration efforts.
Explosions were reported across Ukraine on November 17, 2024, including Kyiv, Odesa, and parts of western and central Ukraine.
Poland’s military leadership issued a statement on X, revealing that Polish and allied aircraft, including fighter jets, have deployed in Polish airspace in response to significant Russian aggression against Ukraine. The action aims to ensure the security of Poland’s border regions.
On Sunday, November 17, 2024, the Defense Ministry of Russia admitted to executing an extensive missile and drone assault on essential energy installations in Ukraine.
The U.N.’s nuclear energy watchdog stated on Sunday that while Ukraine’s nuclear plants remained unaffected, the electrical substations crucial for their operation sustained additional damage. As per the International Atomic Energy Agency, only two out of Ukraine’s nine operational reactors are currently producing electricity at their maximum capacity.
Gov. Aleksei Smirnov disclosed that on Sunday, November 17, 2024, a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s troubled Kursk region resulted in the tragic death of a local journalist.
The bold incursion in August marked the most significant assault on Russia since World War II, where battle-tested Ukrainian units efficiently seized hundreds of square miles of territory.
A drone originating from Ukraine reportedly struck a drone manufacturing facility in Izhevsk, Russia, as per reports from anti-Kremlin Russian media outlets on the Telegram messaging platform. The local governor, Aleksandr Brechalov, mentioned that the drone detonated close to a factory in the area, shattering windows without inflicting significant harm.
