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Moscow hit with 'most serious assault since Nazis'; one dead in third attack on Kyiv in 24 hours
CGTN
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TOP HEADLINES

• Ukraine launched its biggest ever drone attack on Moscow but the weapons were neutralized, Russia said, following what one politician called the worst attack on the capital since World War Two. READ MORE BELOW

• A Ukrainian presidential aide denied Kyiv was directly involved in the attacks. However, he added that Kyiv was enjoying watching the events and predicted an increase in such attacks.

• At least one person was killed and four injured after Russia attacked Kyiv for the third time within 24 hours, with Ukraine's air defenses destroying more than 20 drones. "The attack was massive, came from different directions, in several waves," said the head of Kyiv's military administration.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that using U.S.-provided Patriot anti-missile systems would ensure a 100 percent interception rate and play an important role in pushing back against Russia's assault. He made his remarks after overnight and rare daytime attacks on Kyiv and other targets.

• Kyiv's peace plan is the only way to end the Ukraine conflict and the time for mediation efforts has passed, a top aide to President Zelenskyy said. Chief diplomatic adviser Ihor Zhovkva added Ukraine had no interest in a ceasefire that accepted Russian territorial gains, and wanted the full withdrawal of Russian troops.

• The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said he believed Russia would not be willing to negotiate while it is still trying to win the conflict outright, adding that he was "not optimistic" about what could happen during fighting this summer. "I see a concentration of troops on both sides, the clear will of Russia to try to win the war," he said.

• Kyiv's parliament has approved a sanctions package against Russia's ally Iran, which is accused of sending weapons to Moscow amid the conflict. The move comes one day after Ukraine said Russia used Iranian Shahed drones in the largest UAV attack on Kyiv. 

A drone explodes after being shot down during a massive Russian drones strike mainly targeting the Ukrainian capital. /Sergei Supinsky/AFP
A drone explodes after being shot down during a massive Russian drones strike mainly targeting the Ukrainian capital. /Sergei Supinsky/AFP

A drone explodes after being shot down during a massive Russian drones strike mainly targeting the Ukrainian capital. /Sergei Supinsky/AFP

IN DETAIL

Aerial strikes hit Moscow, Kyiv

Ukrainian drones hit Moscow on Tuesday in what one Russian politician called the worst attack on the capital since World War Two, while Kyiv was also hit from the air for the third time in 24 hours.

The conflict has largely been fought inside Ukraine since Russia sent troops into its neighbor in February last year, but Moscow has reported several attacks on its territory, claiming one was an assassination attempt against President Vladimir Putin.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the early morning drone assault had injured two people, while residents in two damaged apartment blocks had to be evacuated.

Russia's defense ministry said eight drones sent by Kyiv were shot down or diverted, though Baza, a Telegram channel with links to the security services, said more than 25 were involved.

An apartment building burns after being damaged during a massive Russian drone strike in Kyiv. Pablo Petrov/Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Reuters
An apartment building burns after being damaged during a massive Russian drone strike in Kyiv. Pablo Petrov/Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Reuters

An apartment building burns after being damaged during a massive Russian drone strike in Kyiv. Pablo Petrov/Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Reuters

Russian lawmaker Maxim Ivanov termed it the most serious assault on Moscow since attacks by the Nazis, saying no citizen could now avoid "the new reality." "You will either defeat the enemy as a single fist with our Motherland, or the indelible shame of cowardice, collaboration and betrayal will engulf your family," he said.

Two weeks ago, two drones exploded over the Kremlin in an attack Russia also blamed on Kyiv and said was directly aimed at Putin.

Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak denied Kyiv was directly involved in targeting Moscow on Tuesday, but said "we are pleased to watch," adding that there would likely be more attacks to come.

Over in Kyiv, Ukrainian defense forces said they shot down more than 20 Iranian-made Shahed drones on Tuesday.

One person died and four were injured when debris from a destroyed Russian projectile hit a high-rise apartment building causing a fire, Ukrainian officials said, adding that people were possibly still under the rubble.

"The attack was massive, came from different directions, in several waves," said Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's military administration.

Russia has attacked Kyiv 17 times in May with drones or missiles, mostly at night, an upsurge in aerial attacks ahead of Ukraine's long-planned counter-offensive in Russian-occupied territory. 

"These missile attacks of a fairly dense frequency are aimed specifically at exhausting both our air defense forces and our physical and moral strength," said Natalya Gumenyuk, a spokesperson for Ukraine's southern military command.

Moscow hit with 'most serious assault since Nazis'; one dead in third attack on Kyiv in 24 hours

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Source(s): Reuters ,AFP

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