Russia Unleashes Devastating Missile Barrage on Ukraine, Targeting Civilian Infrastructure.
In a blatant escalation of its ongoing assault on Ukraine, Russia launched one of the largest air strikes on the war-torn nation on Sunday, November 17. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the attack consisted of a staggering 210 missiles and drones, all allegedly targeting critical civilian infrastructure.
Zelensky, in a series of posts on X, condemned the strikes, stating, “This morning began with one of the largest Russian strikes on Ukraine. 210 missiles and drones, including aeroballistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as dozens of Shahid drones, were launched.
Ukrainian officials have described the attack as one of the largest since the war began, consisting of 120 missiles and 90 drones, including advanced aeroballistic and hypersonic missiles. The assault forced power cuts in Kyiv and two eastern regions of the country.
Zelensky lambasted Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of “drowning the world in his rhetoric, but his only true message is written in destruction and death, delivered through every missile and drone Russia sends.”
The devastating consequences of the Russian strikes were tragically evident in the northeastern region of Sumy, where a missile struck a multi-story residential building, killing 10 people, including two children, and injuring 52 others.
Highlighting the attack, Zelensky wrote on X, “This evening, a Russian missile hit a nine-story residential building. Many people are wounded.” He added that while emergency services are working to save lives, “what is still missing—and desperately needed—is the principled reaction of the world to this evil.”
Zelensky concluded by noting that “Russia has continued its terror for nearly 1,000 days—and the world’s decisions are still delayed.”
The international community swiftly condemned the Russian strikes, with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen describing the attacks as “horrible” and reaffirming the bloc’s unwavering support for Ukraine, particularly in energy recovery efforts.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the attack on “energy and critical civilian infrastructure” as a violation of international humanitarian law, stating, “Directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects is prohibited by international humanitarian law. Any such attacks are unacceptable and must end immediately.”
