RUSSIA LAUNCHES SPRING OFFENSIVE

Barrage of cruise missiles | Ground assault now feared

- CHRISTOPHER HUGHES

 

RUSSIA has stepped up its war on Ukraine with strategic bombers, drones and rockets attacking civilian targets across the country. 

Moscow’s latest military push was brewing for days and has appeared to pick up pace ahead of the one-year anniversary of the invasion, on February 24.

Its forces have launched 71 cruise missiles, 35 S-300 missiles and seven Shahed drones since late Thursday, Ukraine’s military chief Gen Valerii Zaluzhnyi said.

Ukrainian forces said they downed 61 cruise missiles and five drones. The missiles were believed to have been launched by Vladimir Putin’s Tu-95 strategic bombers and navy ships in the Black Sea.