It now appears Russia's retaliation for the devastating loss of its celebrated missile cruiser Moskva has begun, with the defense ministry announcing: "The number and scale of missile strikes against targets in Kyiv will increase in response to any terrorist attacks or sabotage committed by the Kyiv nationalist regime on Russian territory."
On Saturday
it's being reported that after a lull in fighting near Kiev following
weeks ago Russian forces having pulled back their positions to focus on
Donbas in the east, there have been fresh scattered attacks on the Ukrainian capital.
“The number and scale of missile strikes against targets in #Kyiv will increase in response to any terrorist attacks or sabotage committed by the Kyiv nationalist regime on #Russian territory,” the defence ministry in #Moscow says.
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) April 16, 2022
Read more here:https://t.co/cpYkj3dxUX pic.twitter.com/cbtBA9t9RM
"Russian forces resumed scattered attacks on Kyiv, western Ukraine and beyond Saturday in an explosive reminder to Ukrainians and their Western supporters that the whole country remains under threat despite Russia’s pivot toward mounting a new offensive in the east," The Associated Press reports.
Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed in a statement that the military launched "air-launched high-precision long-range weapons" in order to take out an armored vehicle plant in Kiev, however without specifying the exact location.
The AP reported further of the attack:
"Smoke rose early Saturday from eastern Kyiv as Mayor Vitali Klitschko
reported a strike on the the city’s Darnytski district. He said rescuers
and paramedics were at the scene, and information about possible deaths
would be provided later."
Russian MoD video showing T-72B, T-72B1, and possibly T-72A tanks from the 90th Tank Division's 239th Tank Regiment in Kharkiv Oblast with an escort from Mi-8AMTSh helicopters. Also Tigrs and Ural gun trucks with ZU-23-2.https://t.co/sK1J0Sq6iE pic.twitter.com/BKmyGzAETI
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) April 16, 2022
The mayor of the suburban area warned residents it's still unsafe to return amid the Russian assault.
"It was not immediately clear from the ground what was hit in the attack. Darnytskyi is a sprawling district on the southeastern edge of the capital, containing a mixture of Soviet-style apartment blocks, newer shipping centers and big-box retail outlets, industrial areas and railyards," the AP details further of the fresh attack.
There are unconfirmed reports that Russia has attacked weapons manufacturing centers and depots...
Military factory "Artyom" in #Kiev that produced anti-tank guided missiles and anti-tank missile systems of various types,air-to-air missiles,missiles for MLRS 'Vilkha',anti-ship missiles 'Neptun' and air-defence guided missiles was destroyed yesterday by Russian missile strike. pic.twitter.com/FsbzxktHRl
— Zrada2022 (@zrada2022) April 16, 2022
On Thursday the Kremlin warned that it would attack "decision-making centers" in Ukraine if cross-border attacks continue. Russia has said that in at least two recent instances, Ukrainian forces have conducted strikes on Russian soil. "The village of Spodaryushino, near the border with Ukraine, had been shelled by Ukraine, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia's Belgorod region, said in a statement on Telegram," CNN cited the Russian official was cited as saying.
Saturday's strikes in Kiev could be the start of more long-rage missile launches against various cities across Ukraine to come, as Russia turns from slow-grinding infantry and tank tactics to greater reliance on air power and long-range missiles.
(Article by Tyler Durden republished from Zerohedge.com)
