Russia escalates attack on Ukraine, hits Kyiv with major drone and missile strikes

On Wednesday (Nov 13), Russia intensified its assault on Ukraine, launching a wave of drones and missiles in its first combined aerial attack on Kyiv in over two months. This escalation coincides with significant developments on the battlefield, as Russian forces advance in eastern Ukraine and concerns arise about the future of US aid following Donald Trump’s recent election victory.

The pre-dawn barrage sent explosions through Kyiv, with residents taking shelter in underground metro stations. Officials in Kyiv reported an injury in the suburb of Brovary, where debris from a downed drone struck a man. Emergency responders shared images of firefighters tackling flames at several impact sites.

In parallel, the southern region of Kherson, claimed by Russia as part of its territory, endured a separate drone attack, which resulted in the death of a 52-year-old woman, according to the region’s governor. Air raid sirens in Kyiv sounded around 04:30 GMT, warning of an imminent missile strike.

“As missiles approached Kyiv, the enemy simultaneously launched a ballistic missile attack on the capital, followed by a drone strike,” said city authorities.

The assault follows a Russian strike on President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown, which claimed the lives of a young mother and her three children just a day before. Recently, both Moscow and Kyiv have engaged in record overnight drone strikes on each other.

Ukraine has been urgently requesting additional air defense systems from Western allies to counter these escalating attacks. However, with Donald Trump’s election win, there is increased uncertainty about continued US aid, as he has previously criticized the assistance as a drain on US resources.

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