Title: Russian Forces Attack Blood Transfusion Center and Aerospace Firm in Ukraine, President Zelenskiy Confirms
Date: August 5, 2022
In a series of devastating attacks, Russian forces targeted a blood-transfusion center and an aerospace firm in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, causing deaths and extensive damage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed the strikes, which occurred just hours after two Russian ships were damaged by apparent drone attacks in the Kerch Strait.
Late on August 5, President Zelenskiy took to social media to inform the public about the attack on the blood-transfusion center located in Kupyansk, a city near the Russian border. He mentioned that a “guided air bomb” struck the center, resulting in casualties and injuries. Rescue efforts were underway to extinguish the fire that had engulfed the facility.
Shortly after the blood-transfusion center attack, President Zelenskiy revealed that a missile strike had targeted the facility of Ukrainian aerospace firm Motor Sich in western Ukraine. However, specific details regarding casualties were not immediately available.
Thus, far, these reported incidents are yet to be confirmed by official sources.
President Zelenskiy firmly condemned the attacks, stating, “Today, there was another Russian missile attack against our country. They hit Motor Sich.” He accused Russia of using Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles and Kalibr projectiles in the assault, which occurred in the Khmelnytskiy region.
The Khmelnytskiy region, located away from the front lines and approximately 300 kilometers southwest of Kyiv, has previously been targeted by suspected Kinzhal missiles launched by Russian MiG-31 warplanes.
Notably, Motor Sich had its assets seized and nationalized two years ago by a Ukrainian court, along with four other companies, to ensure sufficient military supplies to counter the ongoing Russian invasion. The former head of Motor Sich, Vyacheslav Bohuslayev, was arrested in October 2022 for allegedly aiding Russia, a charge he vehemently denies.
In a separate incident, a Russian oil tanker named SIG became the second vessel damaged in two days due to a Ukrainian drone attack in the Kerch Strait. The Marine Rescue Coordination Center reported that the tanker’s engine room suffered damage, but the crew members were safe.
President Zelenskiy’s government did not explicitly claim responsibility for the attacks. However, Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, stated that Ukrainian capabilities to strike Russia were increasingly competitive. He mentioned that Ukrainian combat UAVs and naval drones were becoming more accurate and effective, promising enhanced operations against Russian targets.
As tensions escalate, the Ukrainian agency for navigation and hydrographic services warned that six Russian Black Sea ports, including Anapa, Novorossiisk, Gelendzhik, Tuapse, Sochi, and Taman, were in a “war risk area.”
The attacks come in the wake of Russia’s refusal to extend a deal that allowed the shipping of Ukrainian grain by sea, leading to increased hostilities in and around the Black Sea.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continued their offensive operations in the southern region of Zaporizhzhya, specifically in the Berdyansk and Melitopol sectors. The General Staff reported a total of 36 combat battles over the past 24 hours.
This latest escalation in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has further intensified concerns about the ongoing invasion and its impact on both countries and the wider global community.
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