Ukraine: Aftermath of Russian attacks on building in Kiev
The news comes as the latest intelligence report from the British Ministry of Defense (MoD) suggests that Russian forces are being held back by Ukrainian defenses in the east of the country. In recent days, the Russians have switched to long-range missiles fired from bombers, with the report suggesting some were fired from Belarusian airspace.
The report suggests that Ukrainian troops actively defended the cities of Lyschansak and Severodonetsk.
It read: “Ukrainian troops continue to consolidate their positions on higher ground in the city of Lyschansak, after falling back from Severodonetsk.
“Ukrainian forces continue to disrupt Russian command and control with successful strikes deep behind Russian lines.”
Still, it was the use of ancient technology that showed that the Russian armed forces are running out of equipment.
The report continued: “Between June 26 and 26, Russia launched unusually intense waves of attacks over Ukraine using long-range missiles.
“These weapons were most likely the Soviet-era AS-4 KITCHEN and more modern AS-23a KODIAK missiles fired from both Belarusian and Russian airspace.”
Putin has resorted to Soviet-era missiles fired from long ranges (Image: Getty)
An AS-4 KITCHEN missile seen here mounted on a Tu-22 (Image: Aviation.ru)
The report went on to assess the Russian use of such weapons.
It read: “These weapons are designed to target targets of strategic importance, but Russia continues to use them in large numbers for tactical advantage.
Similarly, it carried out the core elements of six different armies, but achieved tactical success only at Severodonetsk.
“Russian armed forces are increasingly being eroded.
“They are currently accepting a level of reduced combat effectiveness, which is probably unsustainable in the long run.”
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The older style missiles were probably launched from a Tu-22 “Backfire” bomber (Image: Getty)
A shopping mall in Ukraine was hit with many deaths inside, the act has been labeled a war crime (Image: UKRAINE STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE / HANDOUT)
On Monday, a Russian missile hit a crowded shopping center in Ukraine.
The building is believed to have been home to thousands of shoppers at the time of the attack, which has been labeled a war crime by Western sources.
Speaking of the disaster, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said: “Fortunately, many people managed to get out at the time, they managed to get out, but there were still people inside… workers and some visitors.”
At least 15 people have been killed, according to a Telegram report from Dmytro Lunin, the head of the military administration of the Poltava region, who previously said the death toll could rise.
About 58 people were injured, the Ukrainian state emergency service said.
The numbers could be set to soar as rescuers search through the scorched remains.
Zelensky said in his overnight video address Monday that the rescue operation was underway and that “we need to be aware that the losses could be significant”.
Rescuers search the damage for survivors or bodies (Image: UKRAINE STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE / HANDOUT)
Zelensky described the atrocities after the strike, calling the attack “one of the most challenging terrorist attacks in European history”.
He continued: “A peaceful city, an ordinary shopping center with women in it, children, ordinary citizens in it.”
“Only insane terrorists, who shouldn’t have a place on Earth, can fire missiles at such an object.
“And this is not an off-target missile attack, this is a calculated Russian attack, right on this mall.”
President Zelensky called the attack on the mall a “terrorist attack” (Image: Getty)
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said at that meeting that the attack demonstrated the “depth of brutality and barbarity” of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Britain’s PA news agency reported.
Johnson said: “This horrific attack has shown once again the depths of cruelty and barbarity the Russian leader will sink.”
In a tweet Monday, US President Joe Biden condemned the attack, saying: “Russia’s attack on civilians in a shopping center is brutal.
“We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
“As demonstrated at the G7 summit, the US, along with our allies and partners, will continue to hold Russia responsible for such atrocities and support the defense of Ukraine.”