Russia blames Ukrainian air defenses for damage to civilian infrastructure in kyiv

8 Jul. () –

Russia’s defence ministry has denied deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure in several Ukrainian cities on Monday – where more than 20 people have been confirmed dead and 100 injured – and has blamed anti-aircraft defences for the damage caused in places such as kyiv.

“In response to the Kiev regime’s attempts to damage Russian energy and economic facilities, the Russian Armed Forces have launched a long-range precision weapons strike against Ukrainian military industry facilities and air bases of the Ukrainian Air Force,” the ministry said.

“The objectives of the attack have been achieved,” said the Russian defence ministry, which denied that the offensive targeted civilian facilities. “This is absolutely false,” it concluded.

He has pointed to “a Ukrainian anti-aircraft defence missile” launched from kyiv as being responsible for the consequences that have been felt in the Ukrainian capital, where ten people have already died and almost fifty have been injured.

One of the facilities damaged by the latest attacks was the Okhmatdit Hospital in kyiv, one of the “most important” medical centres exclusively for children in Ukraine, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Russian Defense Ministry has also questioned whether such statements from Ukraine always occur on the eve of an international meeting sponsored by “its NATO sponsors,” referring to the NATO summit being held this week in Washington.

“The aim of these provocations is to secure further funding for the kyiv regime and to continue the war to the last Ukrainian,” he said.

On Monday, the Russian army launched a massive attack on several Ukrainian cities, including kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has estimated that “more than 40” missiles were used by Russian forces. Meanwhile, more than 20 people have been confirmed dead and 100 injured as rescue efforts progress.