Russia launches fresh missile strikes on Zaporizhzhya city and oblast
Suffering military defeats in Ukraine, Russia lashes out at civilian infrastructure (illustrative photo) (Photo:Oleksandr Starukh / Telegram)
Invading Russian forces attacked the city of Zaporizhzhya and the surrounding oblast with S-300 missiles early on Oct. 2, the head of the regional military administration, Oleksandr Starukh, said in a Telegram messenger post.
He said the enemy had attacked the Ukrainian-held regional center and its surroundings early in the morning, with industrial infrastructure being destroyed as a result of the attacks. There were no reports of casualties.
According to preliminary information, the Russians used four S-300 air defense missiles to carry out the attack. Russia has in recent months been repurposing these surface-to-air missiles for attacks on ground targets, amid speculation that Moscow may be running short on stocks of high precision missiles. Western sanctions mean Russia may be having difficulties in sourcing components for its more modern ballistic and cruise missiles from abroad.
Meanwhile, the Russian invasion force in Ukraine continues to lose ground: Ukraine liberated the key city of Lyman in Donetsk Oblast on Oct. 1, just a day after Russian dictator Vladimir Putin declared Donetsk Oblast to be part of Russia. The international community has rejected his claims to have annex Donetsk and three other regions of Ukraine – Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson.
Ukrainian officials have warned that as Russia suffers defeats on the battlefield, it may strike out at civilian infrastructure in Ukraine in retaliation.
“The invader is suffering losses on the front, the only way he can respond is to destroy civilian objects,” Starukh said.
“The enemy is doomed.”
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