Ukraine officials said Friday that Russia launched 122 missiles alongside drones, killing at least 22 civilians across the country. Ukrainian Air Force official Mykola Oleshchuk said it was “the most massive aerial attack” of the war to date.
“Today, Russia used nearly every type of weapon in its arsenal,” Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said Russia “apparently launched everything they have,” except for submarine-launched Kalibr missiles, in the attack.
The aerial attack that began Thursday and continued through the night hit six cities, including the capital, Kyiv, and other areas from east to west and north to south Ukraine, according to authorities.
In a statement Friday, President Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin “seeks to obliterate Ukraine and subjugate its people.” The U.S. president urged Congress to reach a bipartisan agreement to provide more funding for Ukraine.
“In the face of this brutal attack, Ukraine deployed the air defense systems that the United States and our allies and partners have delivered to Ukraine over the past year to successfully intercept and destroy many of the missiles and drones,” President Joe Biden said.
“The American people can be proud of the lives we have helped to save and the support we have given Ukraine as it defends its people, its freedom, and its independence. But unless Congress takes urgent action in the new year, we will not be able to continue sending the weapons and vital air defense systems Ukraine needs to protect its people. Congress must step up and act without any further delay.”
